Australian Hijikata Emerges as Barrier to U.S. Ambitions for Grand Slam Victory

Rinky Hijikata is fully aware that his upcoming match at the U.S. Open against Frances Tiafoe represents more than just an individual competition.

Securing his furthest advance in a major tournament thus far, the Australian has become the sole impediment to the United States securing a guaranteed men’s semifinal slot. Should Hijikata fail to triumph in his next two fixtures, the possibility for the U.S. to break a two-decade Grand Slam title absence remains very much in play.

Hijikata is under no illusions regarding the crowd’s allegiances come Sunday when he competes against 10th seed Frances Tiafoe. Should he emerge victorious, he will then face the winner of the all-American duel between 14th-seeded Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals.

“The audience will decidedly not be in my favor,” acknowledged Hijikata, “nonetheless, I intend to derive as much enjoyment from the experience as possible.”

Participating in only his third Grand Slam event, the 22-year-old has already graced the Arthur Ashe Stadium’s court. He met Rafael Nadal in the inaugural round last year, succumbing in four sets, which means he is no stranger to the ambiance of the venue. However, he recognizes that the atmosphere will be notably different when facing Tiafoe, a crowd favorite in Flushing Meadows who encourages spectators to amplify their support.

“Tiafoe is an exceptional athlete with an impressive serve,” Hijikata stated. “He is one of the emerging faces of American tennis, which undoubtedly adds excitement for the local fans, who will certainly rally behind him.”

No American male has seized a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick’s 2003 U.S. Open win. Tiafoe almost disrupted this pattern last year but was defeated by eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Hijikata’s background includes collegiate tennis at North Carolina, where he earned All-American status prior to turning professional. He describes the forthcoming match as akin to some of the vociferous environments he has encountered during his college career.

“I recall matches in South Carolina as particularly challenging,” said Hijikata. “The crowd was openly hostile, yet we managed a victory, making it one of my memorable experiences in college tennis.”

The scale of the crowd he faces in his imminent match will be of an entirely different magnitude.

Growing up, Hijikata looked up to fellow Australian Lleyton Hewitt, who won the U.S. Open in 2001, as well as Kei Nishikori, who has Japanese lineage similar to his own and was a U.S. Open runner-up in 2014. He aims to emulate the tenacity and spirit exhibited by these tennis icons.

Earlier this year, Hijikata received strong crowd support when he and compatriot Jason Kubler clinched the Australian Open doubles championship. He anticipates no such favor this coming Sunday against Tiafoe.

“I am prepared for the upcoming challenge,” said Hijikata. “I recognize that my level of play must be exceptional to unsettle him, and I am keen to see what I can accomplish.”

Source: AP Tennis: AP Tennis Website

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• Rinky Hijikata’s Professional Profile
• Frances Tiafoe ATP Profile
• U.S. Open Official Site
• Grand Slam Tennis Statistics
• Australian Open Doubles Championship
• College Tennis at North Carolina
• History of American Men’s Grand Slam Champions
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