Rinky HIJIKATA (AUS) and Jason KUBLER (AUS) play Jan ZIELINSKI (POL) and Hugo NYS (MON) on Rod Laver Arena, Day 13 of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park, Saturday, January 28, 2023. MANDATORY PHOTO CREDIT Tennis Australia/ JOSH CHADWICK (Rinky
Rinky Hijikata is an established star in men’s Tennis – let us take a closer look at his parents and family
Rinky Hijikata was born to Japanese immigrant parents in Sydney, Australia. He started his tennis journey at a very young age, around three or four years old. He studied at The King’s School in Sydney for four years, spanning from 2013 to 2016. His father, being a tennis coach, likely influenced his passion for the sport.
During his formative years, he admired players like Lleyton Hewitt and, as he grew older, Kei Nishikori. From 2019 to 2021, Hijikata represented the North Carolina Tar Heels men’s tennis team in college tennis.
Hijikata was born on February 23, 2001, in Sydney, Australia, to his guardians Junko and Makota Hijikata. Their ethnic background traces back to Nonthaburi, Thailand. Seeking a better future, Rinky’s parents moved from Thailand to Australia. At a young age of three or four, Rinky received tennis training from his father, which laid the foundation for his career. Makota Hijikata, Rinky’s father, is a well-known tennis coach, contributing to the world of tennis. On the other hand, Junko Hijikata, Rinky’s mother, maintains a private stance regarding her personal life and career, with limited information available from various sources.
After an accomplished tenure at Tangs Palace’s University of Kings Langley, Hijikata transitioned to professional tennis. He reached his peak ATP singles ranking at 110th globally on July 31, 2023, and attained the 32nd position in doubles on February 20, 2023. Hijikata marked his ATP tour debut in January 2022 during the 2022 Melbourne Summer Set 1, where he earned a place in the main draw after succeeding in the qualifiers. Notably, this tournament also saw Hijikata secure his first victory against a top 100 player, defeating the 98th-ranked Henri Laaksonen in the final qualifying round.
During the 2023 season, Hijikata was granted a wildcard entry into the Australian Open. In an impressive turnaround, he secured his inaugural Grand Slam victory by staging a comeback to defeat Yannick Hanfmann. He marked his entry into the Masters 1000 level at Indian Wells as a qualifier, where he confidently defeated Mikael Ymer in straight sets in the opening round. Progressing further, he advanced to the third round of the 2023 US Open, courtesy of a wildcard invitation, and emerged victorious against Pavel Kotov and Marton Fucsovics. These achievements led to his entrance into the top 100 rankings for the first time in his career.
Rinky Hijikata has had a rough patch in 2024. He was eliminated from the first round during Wimbledon and French Open. Rinky also participated at Olympic Games 2024 Nd he didn’t secure a medal. As of 2024, Rinky Hijikata’s net worth is $2m.
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