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Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata has lined up a crack at world No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Australian Open second round after pulling off a stirring five-set comeback victory in his main-draw debut.
Hijikata appeared set for a quick exit when he lost his first two sets against German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann but fought back to prevail 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in front of a parochial crowd.
“I’m lost for words. That was mental,” Hijikata said after the four-hour, 25-minute escape.
“I don’t really know what to say at the moment.
“I couldn’t have done it without the support today. I’m so grateful for everyone coming out. That is the most fun match I’ve ever played in my life.”
Tsitsipas started his own Open in style, downing Frenchmen Quentin Halys in straight sets but Hijikata is unlikely to be unnerved by the big occasion on Wednesday.
The excitement machine lit up Arthur Ashe Stadium in taking the first set against Rafael Nadal in the first round of the 2022 US Open.
Hijikata relished the vocal crowd on Court 8, consistently revving them up as he manufactured a comeback, then took control.
The 21-year-old spurned his first two match points on serve but sealed his third.
Hijikata fell to the ground then punched the air and celebrated with the crowd.
Tsitsipas posted a convincing 6-3 6-4 7-6 (8-6) victory over Halys as the 24-year-old searches for his first major title.
The Greek third seed has been stopped three times in the semi-finals at the Open while his best grand slam result is reaching the final at Roland Garros in 2021.
With world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz missing, nine-time champion Novak Djokovic battling hamstring trouble, top seed Rafael Nadal playing below par and hometown heavyweight Nick Kyrgios pulling out with a knee injury, it could be the year for Tsitsipas to break through at Melbourne Park.
“I was happy, I came up with some good tennis,” Tsitsipas said on court.
“I wasn’t going to give up and showed my fighting spirit .
“I really like being back here playing tennis, it feels like home and I have great support.”
Tsitsipas lost focus temporarily in the third, twice losing his serve, but managed to level to send the set to a tense showdown.
Up 6-5, world No.61 Halys had four set points after Tsitsipas trailed 0-40 on serve but he couldn’t close it out with the pair heading to a tiebreak.
Halys went ahead 3-0 and then 4-1 before the Greek stormed back to take victory with his second match point.
Tsitisipas stays unbeaten this summer after four impressive wins at the United Cup.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
Veteran Australian John Millman has booked a show-stopping Australian Open second-round clash with two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev after cashing in on his wildcard with a five-set marathon victory.
The 33-year-old twice trailed Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler by a set but fought back before kicking away for a 6-7 (8-10) 7-5 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 6-3 win, prevailing in four hours and six minutes.
It sets up a clash with Medvedev on Wednesday, with the star Russian comfortably accounting for American Marcos Giron 6-0 6-1 6-2.
“They’re the matches you want to play,” Millman said.
“He’s one of the few guys that I’ve actually never played before. I love watching him play.
“It’s a daunting prospect because you know that when you play against him, you have to work for every point. He gives you no points. He covers the court extremely well. He extends the rallies and that’s how I’m winning my rallies.
“So it’s going to be a really tough battle but I’ve had a couple of big matches before against some of these big players and generally speaking, I like to test myself against them.”
It was smooth sailing for Medvedev on Rod Laver Arena, who only needed an hour and 36 minutes to sweep past Giron and was excited to take on Millman for the first time.
“It’s true that in five, six years that I’m on the tour we (Millman and I) never played,” Medvedev said.
“He’s a great player, especially here in Australia.
“I remember he almost beat Roger (Federer) in the US Open when Roger was up the top.
“He’s capable of playing some great tennis so I’m going to have to play my best also and hopefully people are going to see a great match.”
The third set was slightly scratchier.
Medvedev had two double faults while serving for the match and was clearly frustrated by the crowd making noise between points, but sealed victory nonetheless.
“I’m really happy about my level and looking forward to the next matches,” he said.
Millman, who required a wildcard after falling to No.140 in the rankings, joins fellow Australians Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata in reaching the second round of the men’s draw on the opening day.
It is the sixth time Millman has reached the second round at his home major, in his ninth Melbourne Park campaign and he relished the raucous crowd on Court 3.
“You can’t underestimate just how big of an influence that crowd and the energy they give you (has to) tow you over the finish line,” he said.
© AAP
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