Australian Qualifier Rinky Hijikata Reaches First ATP Masters Quarter-Final in Paris

In an impressive run at the Paris Masters, 25-year-old Australian Rinky Hijikata defeated Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry — ranked world No. 31 — 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals of an ATP Masters event for the first time in his career. Hijikata had entered the tournament as a qualifier ranked No. 83, and had already beaten Novak Djokovic in the previous round before backing it up against Etcheverry, who had knocked out fellow Australian Alex de Minaur earlier in the draw.

The match was a battle. Hijikata dropped the first set quickly, losing the opening eight points, but steadied to win the second and force a decider. The third set stayed on serve until 5-5, when Hijikata broke at the key moment and served out the match, closing with an emphatic forehand smash.

By advancing to the last eight, Hijikata has already climbed into the world's top 60 for the first time in his career. A win over French home favourite Luca Van Assche — ranked No. 47, and a player Hijikata has never faced — would lift him to world No. 48. The pair will meet in the quarter-finals.

Television pundit and former top-40 American player Ryan Harrison captured the mood after Hijikata's animated celebrations: "He is a guy who is typically mild-mannered; he's as fired up as I've ever seen him before."