Rinky Hijikata, who played for the UNC men’s tennis team in 2020 and 2021, won the men’s doubles title with partner Jason Kubler at the Australian Open on Saturday.

Hijikata and Kubler not only entered the men’s doubles draw unseeded, but had to earn a wild card berth to even compete. They are just the second wild card doubles team to win the Australian Open title. Hijikata and Kubler, both native Australians, defeated Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski in the championship, 6-4, 7-6.

Hijikata and Kubler’s road to the title saw them defeat three seeded pairs, including the tournament’s top seed in the quarterfinal round. After losing their first set in their third-round match, the team did not drop another set for the rest of the tournament.

This was Hijikata’s second appearance in the Australian Open in doubles, having reached the second round last year. Hijikata has also qualified for two consecutive Grand Slam tournaments in singles, competing in the 2022 U.S. Open in New York and reaching the second round in this year’s Australian Open. He’s currently ranked No. 277 in the world in doubles, though that is likely to change after his performance in Melbourne.

 

Featured image via The Tennis Channel on Twitter

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