Rising Australian Rinky Hijikata is making the most effective of a ‘fortunate loser’ reprieve by making a exceptional run to his first-ever ATP Tour semi-final within the Netherlands.
And as he eyes a maiden last, the 22-year-old may have a fellow Sydneysider, Jordan Thompson, standing in his approach in Saturday’s semi-final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
With one Australian now assured to play in Sunday’s last, there was disappointment that nationwide No.1 Alex de Minaur could not be a part of the get together as he was knocked out in Friday’s quarter-finals.
Hijikata had not even anticipated to be enjoying on this week’s conventional pre-Wimbledon grass-court occasion after being knocked out within the last spherical of qualifying.
But granted a second probability after a withdrawal, the Australian Open doubles champion has grabbed the chance with each fingers to make his greatest run but in any singles occasion.
On Friday, the world No.133 needed to present appreciable resilience in battling again from a set right down to defeat American Mackenzie McDonald 5-7 6-3 6-1 in his first quarter-final, a 3rd successive victory after his qualifying loss.
It’s the most recent success in an increase which can see Hijikata, who was ranked 230 on the earth this time final yr, transfer as much as about 115.
It’s arrange an all-Sydney semi-final with the extra skilled Thompson, who additionally got here from a set behind to defeat French southpaw Adrian Mannarino 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 simply over two-and-a-half hours.
This was a measure of revenge for the 29-year-old Thompson, who misplaced to Mannarino on the similar venue in his solely ATP last again in 2019.
Showing as soon as once more his liking for grass-court tennis, ‘Tommo’, whose final semi-final additionally got here on the floor in Newport, USA, two years in the past, will fancy his probabilities of beating the relative rookie Hijikata on Saturday.
In the opposite aspect of the draw, world No.18 de Minaur took the primary set however finally went right down to house favorite Tallon Griekspoor 6-4 3-6 4-6.
Elsewhere within the build-up to Wimbledon on the Stuttgart Open, Chris O’Connell’s spectacular progress in his fourth quarter-final of the yr was halted by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in a 6-4 6-4 defeat.
The Sydneysider’s comfort, although, might be a brand new career-high rating of No.68 subsequent week.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
