PLAYER PROFILE
Rinky Hijikata
- Age17
- Born23 February 2001
- Birth PlaceSydney, New South Wales
- LivesWilloughby, New South Wales
- PlaysRight-handed
- CoachJarrad Bunt
“Going into this week I really wanted to hold a medal at the end and now I’ve got one it feels pretty unreal. Just being able to play for Australia is something I cherish so much.”
— Rinky Hijikata, 15 Oct 2018
» Hijikata wins silver at Youth Olympics
On court
- Selected to represent Australia at the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament in Paris, 2013
- Represented Australia at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, where he won a silver medal in doubles with Adrian Andreev
- Competed at all four junior Grand Slam events in 2018, making the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the doubles semifinals at Wimbledon
- Cracked the ITF world junior top 15 in November 2018
- Named Junior Male Athlete of the Year at the 2018 Newcombe Medal, Australian Tennis Awards
- Favourite surface is Plexicushion
- Trains at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre in Homebush, NSW
- Hero is Japan’s Kei Nishikori
- Goal is to hopefully win a Grand Slam title and represent Australia in Davis Cup
Off court
- Enjoys tennis because “you can travel the world and meet new friends”
- Five words that sum up Hijikata: cheeky, smart, funny, tough and focused
- Favourite city is New York because “there are heaps of fun things to do and fun places to visit”
- Favourite food is fish and Japanese
- If not a tennis player he would be a baseball player or a doctor
Year-end ranking history
| 2018 | 1745 |
Rinky Hijikata in the news
Peers, Kontinen into Australian Open doubles quarters
20 January, 2019
Aussie John Peers and Finland's Henri Kontinen on Sunday advanced to the men's doubles quarterfinals, while Alexei Popyrin & Blake Ellis won through to the…
Read moreAussie John Peers and Finland's Henri Kontinen on Sunday advanced to the men's doubles quarterfinals, while Alexei Popyrin & Blake Ellis won through to the…
Stosur, Peers, juniors among Aussie winners
20 January, 2019
In addition to the incredible results Australia has enjoyed in singles at Australian Open 2019, there are plenty of other Aussies flourishing in doubles and juniors at Melbourne…
Read moreIn addition to the incredible results Australia has enjoyed in singles at Australian Open 2019, there are plenty of other Aussies flourishing in doubles and juniors at Melbourne…
Kokkinakis wins in AO qualifying opener
8 January, 2019
Thanasi Kokkinakis moves to within two wins of the Australian Open main draw after seeing off Mohamed Safwat in straight sets on Tuesday.
Read moreThanasi Kokkinakis moves to within two wins of the Australian Open main draw after seeing off Mohamed Safwat in straight sets on Tuesday.
Kokkinakis, Rodionova lead Aussie charge in AO qualifying
7 January, 2019
Ten men and 12 women will represent Australia in the Australian Open 2019 qualifying events, which kick off at Melbourne Park on Tuesday 8 January.
Read moreTen men and 12 women will represent Australia in the Australian Open 2019 qualifying events, which kick off at Melbourne Park on Tuesday 8 January.
Rinky Hijikata's Gallery
