Rinky Hijikata is an Australian professional tennis player who has made a name for himself in the world of tennis.
After a stellar college career at the University of North Carolina, he decided to turn professional and has achieved impressive rankings in both singles and doubles.
On 16 October 2023, he reached his career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 70, and on 30 October 2023, he reached his doubles ranking of No. 23.
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- Full name: Rinky Hijikata
- Stage name: Rinky Hijikata
- Date of birth: February 23, 2001
- Age: 23 years old
- Place of birth: Sydney, Australia
- Australian citizenship
- Occupation: Australian professional tennis player
- Height: 1.78 m
- Parents: Junko Hijikata and Makoto Hijikata
- Siblings: 2, Shori Hijikata and Kamiyu Hijikata
- Spouse: Unknown
- Children: None
- Single status
- Net worth: $2 million
Early life and education
Rinky Hijikata was born on February 23, 2001 in Sydney, Australia. He was raised by his parents, Junko Hijikata and Makoto Hijikata, along with two siblings, Shori Hijikata and Kamiyu Hijikata, both of whom are professional swimmers.
Rinky attended The King’s School in Sydney from 2013 to 2016 before continuing his tennis career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2019 to 2021. He was greatly influenced by his father, a tennis coach.
Career
Rinky Hijikata’s professional tennis career was marked by quick successes and breakthrough moments. He started playing tennis at the age of 3-4 and also tried his hand at other activities such as football, rugby and swimming.
However, it was tennis that captured his passion, and he enjoyed a successful junior career, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the doubles semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2018.
Hijikata then took his talents to the United States, playing tennis at the University of North Carolina, where he earned All-American honors as a sophomore.
After turning professional after college, he quickly rose through the ranks, demonstrating his talent and hard work. In 2021, he won his first professional singles title and was granted a wildcard into the Australian Open qualifying for both 2020 and 2021.
In 2023, Hijikata’s career took a turn. At that year’s Australian Open, he and his doubles partner Jason Kubler, both of whom were wildcards, unexpectedly won the Men’s Doubles title, becoming the second consecutive all-Australian team to do so.
In that same tournament, Hijikata also won his first singles main draw at a Grand Slam, coming back from two sets down and cementing his position as a rising star in the tennis world.
Hijikata has made waves with his recent achievements and his promising future potential. He continued to impress in 2023, winning two Challenger singles titles and reaching the fourth round at the US Open as a wildcard.
By October 2023, he had broken into the top 100 in both singles, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 70, and doubles, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 23. With his strong work ethic, diverse athletic background, and recent breakthroughs on the big stage, he has the potential to achieve even greater success in the coming years, making him an exciting player to watch.
Awards and appointments
- Prize:
- 2018 Newcombe Medal – Young Male Athlete of the Year (recognising outstanding achievements in Australian junior tennis)
- Nominations:
- Newcombe Medal 2023 (Nominated in first year of eligibility following outstanding 2023 season including Grand Slam title)
Social Media
- Instagram Name: @r1nky_23
Personal life
Rinky Hijikata is a private person and not much information is available about his personal life or relationships.
However, it is known that he enjoys traveling the world and meeting new people through his passion for tennis. He may value privacy and prefer to keep his personal life separate from his public image as an athlete.
Net asset value
Rinky Hijikata has a net worth of $2 million. His earnings from his career have allowed him to live a comfortable and lavish lifestyle. His success on the court has also brought him numerous endorsement and sponsorship deals, which have further added to his wealth.
