Aussie underdogs counter crushing Kyrgios blow

1 year ago 73

At 1 of the Australian Open amusement courts connected Monday evening — distant from the limelight that attracts broadcast commentary, considerably much licensed photographs and galore much fans — a loveable section had a gathering of onlookers rocking.

Young wildcard Rinky Hijikata dropped the archetypal 2 sets successful his lucifer against Germany's Yannick Hanfmann, but helium charged backmost to prehend a 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory.

The 21-year-old from Sydney threw his hands supra his caput and flopped to the crushed erstwhile Hanfmann deed the shot agelong to seal the result, earlier letting retired a mighty roar and tossing his cap.

AS IT HAPPENED: Australian Open 2023 time one

He past jumped astir and punched the air, ecstatic astatine clinching his archetypal singles triumph successful the main gully of a expansive slam.

After greeting his hostile and the seat umpire, helium bounced implicit to clasp his raucous supporters, chants of "Rinky" ringing passim the humble venue.

His aboriginal had appeared agleam erstwhile helium stole a acceptable disconnected Rafael Nadal successful the US Open 4 months ago, and nether the lights of Court 8 connected Monday evening his aboriginal grew adjacent brighter.

"I dunno. I'm mislaid for words close now. That was mental," Hijikata said connected Nine's sum erstwhile asked however helium felt.

"I dunno. I don't truly cognize what to accidental close now.

"I couldn't person done it without the enactment today. I'm truthful grateful for everyone for coming out. That was the astir amusive lucifer I've ever played successful my life."

Watch the Australian Open unrecorded and escaped connected the Nine Network: Channel 9, 9Gem and 9NOW.

Hijikata entered the apical 200 of the ATP rankings successful August and present sits successful 169th.

In his triumph implicit Hanfmann, helium beat a antheral who turned nonrecreational successful 2015, is ranked 128th and has a career-high ranking of 92.

Hijikata is present eyeing a second-round clash with third effect Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Hijikata was among a big of victorious Australian underdogs connected the opening time of the Melbourne Park major.

Fellow wildcards John Millman, Jason Kubler and Olivia Gadecki booked their ain tickets to the 2nd round.

On a time soured by the quality that Nick Kyrgios, Australia's apical men's seed, wouldn't contention the expansive slam due to the fact that of a gruesome genu injury, the country's unheralded harvest dazzled.

Aussie successful disbelief aft breakthrough win

The reception was electrical arsenic the 33-year-old Millman conquered Switzerland's Marc-Andrea Huesler successful a five-set thriller featuring 2 tiebreaks.

Kubler's win, his archetypal successful an Australian Open singles main draw, reflected a triumph implicit hardship; he'd fought backmost from six genu surgeries and crashed retired of the apical 1000 successful the rankings.

The 20-year-old Gadecki besides enjoyed her archetypal singles triumph successful the main gully of a expansive slam, pocketing a $158,000 wage gaffe to beryllium near "speechless".

"I really can't judge it," she told Nine.

"I mean, wow."

A immense contingent of Australians volition deed the courts connected time two.

Alex de Minaur, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Jordan Thompson, Alexei Popyrin, Aleksandar Vukic, Christopher O'Connell, Max Purcell, Kimberly Birrell and Jaimee Fourlis are up next.

Day 1 gave them a dose of inspiration.

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