Rinky Hijikata won a fluctuating three-setter against Tomas Machac to join at least two other Australian men in the Brisbane International quarter-finals.
Key points:
- Rinky Hijikata will play either second-seed Grigor Dimitrov or German Daniel Altmaier for a spot in the final four
- Tomas Machac led 40-0 on Hijikata’s serve in the second set, only for the Australian to surge back and hold
- Jordan Thompson sealed his quarter-final berth after French fourth-seed Ugo Humbert withdrew due to a stomach flu
The 22-year-old beat the Czech qualifier 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) on Thursday in front of a boisterous home crowd on the outside show court at the Queensland Tennis Centre.
The world number 71 served for the first set before Machac took it off his racquet with a series of big forehands.
Machac then led 40-0 on Hijikata’s serve early in the second set, only for the Australian to surge back and hold in a momentum-shifting moment.
Hijikata then had an early service break neutralised in the third set, before again coming from 0-40 down to hold serve and then play faultless tennis in the deciding tie-break.
“A lot of ups and downs, that’s normally how it goes when I play,” said Hijikata, who beat compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round.
“I would like it if it was a bit more smooth sailing.
“But this is unbelievable; our favourite time of year, nothing beats playing at home.”
Hijikata will play either second-seed Grigor Dimitrov or German Daniel Altmaier for a spot in the final four, while James Duckworth and Jordan Thompson have also progressed to the quarter-finals.
Jason Kubler could still join them, but will have to find a way past the fit-again Rafael Nadal in Thursday night’s Pat Rafter Arena feature match.
Earlier on Thursday, Thompson sealed his quarter-final berth without lifting a finger after French fourth-seed Ugo Humbert withdrew after reportedly struggling with gastroenteritis.
Thompson will play the winner of Nadal and Kubler.
World No 55 Thompson had cruised past fellow Australian Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 6-2 to reach the second round of the tournament.
AFP