Rinky Hijikata has come achingly near emulating the feats of fellow Australian Alexei Popyrin and knocking out a seed within the opening spherical of the Adelaide International 1.
While he fell simply quick, former world No.1 Andy Murray additionally made an early exit in an evening match, going out in straight units towards Sebastian Korda, the son of former Australian Open champion Petr Korda.
A day after Popyrin shocked world No.6 Felix Auger-Aliassime, fellow qualifier Hijikata virtually triggered a boilover towards one other Canadian, seventh seed Denis Shapovalov.
World No.164 Hijikata misplaced to the world No.18 in three prime quality units, 2-6 6-4 6-3.
Shapovalov struggled together with his serve early on, dishing up three double faults in his first recreation earlier than he constructed into the match.
Trailing 3-4 within the deciding set, the 21-year-old Sydneysider had a break level however could not convert, with Shapovalov pouncing to increase his lead earlier than wrapping up the win.
He subsequent faces one other qualifier in Russia’s Roman Safiullin.
American Korda downed former world No.1 Murray 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
The first set was a see-sawing affair however the 22-year-old, who’s ranked world No.33, ran away with the match within the second.
He will meet Roberto Bautista Agut in spherical two after the Spaniard edged fourth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev 4-6 6-3 6-4.
In different outcomes, world No.7 Daniil Medvedev was given an early scare earlier than an harm to his opponent meant free passage by means of to the second spherical.
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open winner, was main 7-6 (8-6) 2-1 towards Lorenzo Sonego when the Italian retired because of an arm harm.
Sonego put up a stern struggle within the opening set, saving 9 of the ten break factors towards him to take it to a tiebreaker.
Medvedev pulled out the products when it mattered most to clinch the primary set, and was handed victory when world No.45 Sonego referred to as it quits.
“What a match to start the year,” Medvedev mentioned in his on-court interview.
“Unfortunate for everybody that it finished early, even if we played one hour 40, but I’m happy to be through.”
Medvedev will tackle world No.29 Miomir Kecmanovic within the spherical of 16.
World No.15 Jannik Sinner arrange a conflict with Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis after beating Britain’s Kyle Edmund 6-3 6-2.
Kokkinakis booked his spot with an upset 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (9-7) win over world No.34 Maxime Cressy on Monday.
During that match, Kokkinakis required a medical timeout because of a knee harm. He retired from his doubles match on Tuesday night time after dropping the primary set.
