The sun prevailed for an incredible day of finals action at the City of Playford Tennis International, with Australians Rinky Hijikata (NSW) and Emerson Jones (QLD) claiming the 2025 singles titles in front of strong local crowds at the Playford Tennis Centre in Elizabeth East.
Hosted by Tennis SA and Tennis Australia in conjunction with the City of Playford, TennisGear and the Playford Tennis Club, the combined men’s ATP Challenger and women’s ITF World Tennis Tour Australian Pro Tour event took place from Sunday 23 – Sunday 30 November, and offered a total prize pool of more than AUD $240,000 along with valuable world ranking points.
Seventeen-year-old rising star Emerson Jones delivered a composed and confident performance to take out the Women’s Singles Championship.
Jones defeated fellow Australian and defending champion Maddison Inglis 6-4 6-4 in just under 90 minutes, securing the third ITF singles title of her career.
“I’m really happy and I love the environment here, the courts and the crowd,” Jones said post-match.“It was a really fun week, and I can’t wait to be back next year” she exclaimed.
In the men’s final, No.2 seed and reigning champion Rinky Hijikata battled for 2.5 hours to overcome fellow Aussie Dane Sweeny 6-0 6-7(8) 6-4. Hijikata stormed through the opening set before Sweeny lifted his level in a gripping second-set tiebreak. Despite the late momentum shift, Hijikata steadied and secured a crucial break in the final set to successfully defend his Playford title.
“Just defended the title here in Playford, it’s been another great week!” Hijikata exclaimed post-match.“I can’t wait to see you all next year”, he signed off.
Tennis SA CEO Debbie Sterrey praised the high standard of tennis and the importance of the event for the state.“ It has been a fantastic week of world-class tennis in Playford, and we are incredibly proud to host an event that continues to attract such exceptional talent from across Australia and around the world.
“The City of Playford Tennis International plays a vital role in strengthening the tennis pathway here in South Australia, and it’s wonderful to see our community embrace the event year after year” Sterrey said.
Tournament Director Dylan Hicks also reflected on the success of the 2025 tournament.“This year’s field showcased an outstanding calibre of players, and it was incredible to see so many exciting matches across the week,
“The atmosphere, the support from the community, and the level of competition made this a truly memorable edition of the tournament” said Hicks.
An incredible week of elite-level tennis was once again on display at the 2025 City of Playford Tennis International, reinforcing its growing reputation as one of Australia’s premier Pro Tour events.
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