Rinky Hijikata Reaches First Masters 1000 Quarterfinals at Paris Masters

Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata, ranked 83rd in the world when the tournament began, reached the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters on Wednesday by rallying past Argentina’s Tomáš Martín Etcheverry 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in 2 hours, 6 minutes at the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, etoday.co.kr reported. The victory extended Hijikata’s winning streak at the event to five matches and lifted him into his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal.

The win came two days after Hijikata produced one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by defeating Serbia’s Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the round of 32 — his first victory in three career meetings against the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Etcheverry fightback falls short in the decider

Hijikata’s path to the quarterfinals was far from smooth against Etcheverry, the 31st-ranked Argentine. He dropped the opening set 2-6 in 26 minutes after losing his serve in the first game and struggling against Etcheverry’s aggressive returns.

The second set turned when Hijikata broke serve at 2-1 to move 3-1 ahead, then held serve the rest of the way to take the set 6-3 and level the match. In the third, he faced three break points while trailing 1-2 but saved all of them, and the players traded holds until 5-5. Hijikata broke Etcheverry in the 11th game to lead 6-5, then held serve to close out the match 7-5.

Hijikata finished with six aces and saved four of the six break points he faced, according to the match statistics reported by etoday.co.kr.

Ranking climbs into the top 60 for the first time

The result moved Hijikata to No. 59 in the ATP live rankings, his first appearance inside the top 60. Entering the tournament at No. 83, he has now defeated five players ranked above him since coming through qualifying, a run that has carried him to the last eight of a Masters 1000 event for the first time in his career.

Van Assche awaits in the quarterfinals

Hijikata’s quarterfinal opponent will be France’s Luca Van Assche, ranked 47th, who also reached his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal by defeating Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti 2-1 in the round of 16. Musetti had earlier beaten world No. 1 Alexander Zverev of Germany in the same round.

Earlier coverage: Rinky Hijikata Defeats Novak Djokovic at Paris Masters

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