Hijikata reaches Paris quarter-finals with comeback win
The Australian defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry after losing the opening set, securing his first quarter-final appearance at Masters level.
Rinky Hijikata has followed his win over Novak Djokovic by beating Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the Paris Masters. The Australian, 25, overturned a one-set deficit to prevail 2-6 6-3 7-5, completing the match in two hours, six minutes.
The result puts Hijikata in his first Masters quarter-final and lifts him into the world’s top 60. He started the tournament as a qualifier ranked No.83 and has since overcome five opponents with higher rankings. Hijikata said he was proud of his progress, having begun the year ranked well outside the top 100.
Etcheverry, ranked No.31, had knocked out Alex de Minaur. He claimed the opening eight points against Hijikata and took just 26 minutes to secure the first set. Hijikata resisted a break opportunity early in the second before taking Etcheverry’s serve in game four. In the decider, the Australian saved three break points at 1-2, then broke for a 6-5 lead and served out the match.
French world No.47 Luca Van Assche awaits Hijikata in their first meeting. Van Assche advanced by defeating Lorenzo Musetti 7-5 3-6 6-4.
