Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata has continued his audacious run through the US Open draw to charge into the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
Hijikata resisted a stirring fightback from Chinese trailblazer Zhizhen Zhang to post a 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-3 victory over the world No.67 and scamper into the last 16 at the season’s final grand slam.
The landmark win secured the 22-year-old a fourth-round date with American 10th seed Frances Tiafoe on Monday (AEST), a fresh career-high ranking inside the world’s top 80 and a minimum pay day of $US284,000 ($A440,000).
That almost doubles Hijikata’s earnings in an already-breakout season that featured a maiden grand slam doubles crown with countryman Jason Kubler at the Australian Open in January.
Hijiikata had announced his arrival to New York fans last year when he seized the opening set from Rafael Nadal in an electrifying first-round encounter under lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Rinky Hijikata. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
But few could have predicted a year on the world No.110 would feature in the second week at Flushing Meadows, especially after Hijikata needed Tennis Australia’s generosity of a wildcard entry into the main draw.
But the Sydney-born son of Japanese immigrant parents has more than vindicated TA’s faith with an inspired run.
Moments after his first-round win over Pavel Kotov, Hijikata was left rocked by a fatal shooting at his girlfriend’s college, the University of North Carolina where he also spent two years studying.
He dedicated his second-round win over Marton Fucsovics to his former schoolmates and celebrated wildly after claiming a third straight higher-ranked scalp on Friday night.
Clubbing winners off both wings, Hijikata had Zheng under the pump from the get-go.
Clearly weary from sapping five-set wins in his opening two matches, including an monumental upset victory over seventh seed and 2022 Open runner-up Casper Ruud, Zheng had to fight off eight break points in the first two sets.
But Hijikata couldn’t be denied, eventually blasting to a two-set lead with three service breaks as Zheng struggled to cope with the Australian’s firepower.
Bravely bidding to become the first Chinese man in the 56-year open era to make the last 16 of a grand slam, Zheng made one last stand despite needing two medical time-outs for a back issue.
Shortening the points, Zheng’s bold tactics paid off as he snatched the third set after an epic service game lasting almost 10 minutes.
But the effort hurt the 26-year-old as Hijikata upped the ante and gained two decisive breaks in the fourth set before sealing victory with his 12th ace on his first match point after three hours and 10 minutes.
Wozniacki blazes down comeback trail
Caroline Wozniacki has won the battle of US Open comeback queens by rallying to beat Jennifer Brady 4-6 6-3 6-1 and move into the last 16 of the season’s final grand slam.
Wozniacki and Brady have been the feel-good stories at Flushing Meadows and their storylines converged on a sun-kissed Arthur Ashe Stadium court with the 33-year-old Dane continuing her dazzling return by reaching the fourth round.
It seemed improbable just weeks ago ex-world No.1 Wozniacki, back playing competitive tennis after a three-year break to raise a family, and Brady, rising star and Australian Open finalist in 2021 but sidelined for two years with knee and foot injuries, would face each other at a major.
But 28-year-old Brady, just four tournaments into her comeback, and Wozniacki, playing in her third, looked as if they had never been away by treating fans to some quality tennis that at times had the crowd on their feet.
However it was Wozniacki, twice a US Open finalist, who showed more fitness and a little less competitive rust, winning 11 of 12 games after dropping the opening set.
Having traded early breaks, the opener was decided when Wozniacki, serving at 4-5 and trying to extend the set, suddenly found herself in a 0-40 hole and took out her frustration on her racket by repeatedly smashing it onto the court.
Brady added to that irritation with a quick break to snatch the opener.
Going down a break in the second to trail 2-0, Wozniacki appeared in deep trouble but dug in to easily win the second set and race to 5-0 lead in the third.
Brady stopped the tailspin by holding for 5-1 but the result was inevitable, with Wozniacki next facing the winner of the match between American sixth seed Coco Gauff and Belgian Elise Mertens.
Earlier, Iga Swiatek made sure the next time she takes her best friend Kaja Juvan out for dinner, bagels are unlikely to be on the menu.
The world No.1 and defending US Open champion thrashed Slovakian qualifier Juvan 6-0 6-1 to advance at Flushing Meadows.
The pair had been out for a meal in New York just last week, and Swiatek spoke of their enduring friendship on the WTA Tour before the match.
But with friends like Swiatek, who needs enemies? The Pole surrendered just eight points as she raced away with the first set to love in only 33 minutes.
Juvan did at least avoid the dreaded ‘double-bagel’, finally getting a game on the board 40 minutes into the match for 3-1 in the second and raising her arms aloft in mock triumph to the acclaim of the Louis Armstrong crowd.
But it was only delaying the inevitable, with Swiatek wrapping up another clinical, statement victory – she beat Rebecca Peterson by the same scoreline in the first round – in well under an hour.
“I didn’t like that I was winning with my best friend but I knew I had to be focused and not think about that,” said the 22-year-old.
“It’s like playing your sister. I don’t have many friends and she’s my best friend so that was the toughest, for sure.”
Nothing short of remarkable from Iga Swiatek!
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2023
She takes set number one 6-0. pic.twitter.com/I4F0Fl6SBy
Karolina Muchova also moved into the fourth round with a 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 victory over Taylor Townsend.
Muchova, the 10th-seeded Czech who reached the final of this year’s French Open, equalled her best showing at Flushing Meadows by pushing the serve-and-volleying American off the net and onto the baseline.
The 132nd-ranked Townsend won just 23 of 70 baseline points and had 39 unforced errors.
Muchova came into the US Open with a career-high ranking and momentum after reaching the final of this month’s tune-up event in Cincinnati, losing to American Coco Gauff in straight sets.
She next faces Xinyu Wang of China, a 4-6 6-3 6-2 winner over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia.
Newshttps://https://ift.tt/Eyc8qMr Rinky doubles career earnings by rolling onto best slam result at US Open, Wozniacki continues dazzling return
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