Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata has stormed into the third round of the US Open securing his best ever performance at a grand slam, with a straight sets win over Marton Fucsovics.
Ranked 53 places lower than his Hungarian opponent at world No.110, Hijikata shocked Fuscovics with an extraordinary 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 thumping.
The 22-year-old Aussie broke Fucsovics seven times without dropping his own serve throughout the clash and now has a huge opportunity for an unlikely foray into the second week, with a third round match-up against China’s world No.67 Zhang Zhizhen, who scored an extraordinary upset win over world No.5 Casper Ruud.
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He will pocket the biggest cheque of his career, a guaranteed $US191,000 ($AUD 298,250), after eclipsing his previous best result at a major.
“I didn’t know what to expect at this tournament,” he told Stan Sport. “I’d won one match at the Aussie Open. This is my third slam, main draw, so I’ve been happy with the way I’ve been competing and looking forward to the next one.
“I felt like I was seeing the ball well after my first round win, four hours on court so I’d like to think I’m seeing the ball well.”
Hijikata’s win pushes him into the top 100, with his live ranking at No. 92 in the world.
“It feels awesome. It was a big goal of mine at the start of the year. There are people yet to play behind me but hopeful I can keep climbing forward.”
Hijikata’s previous best at a grand slam came at this year’s Australian Open, where he reached the second round before also claiming the doubles title alongside countryman Jason Kubler.