In a highly anticipated fourth-round match at the US Open, Frances Tiafoe is set to take on Rinky Hijikata. Tiafoe, who made waves last year by reaching the semifinals, is now the favored player going into this match.
Tiafoe’s incredible run in the 2021 US Open saw him conquer tennis legend Rafael Nadal in a stunning four-set victory. This monumental win not only propelled Tiafoe to his deepest-ever Grand Slam run but also made history as he became the first American man to reach the US Open semifinals since Andy Roddick in 2006. Furthermore, Tiafoe also became the first Black American man to achieve this feat since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
On the other side of the court is Rinky Hijikata, a 21-year-old Australian with Japanese heritage. Despite not having much experience at this level of competition, Hijikata has made the most of his opportunity at the US Open. With a decorated college tennis career at the University of North Carolina, Hijikata received a wild card entry from Tennis Australia.
Hijikata’s journey to the fourth round has been impressive, to say the least. He has not had to face any seeded players and was fortunate enough to benefit from Zhang Zhizhen’s five-set upset of 2022 US open finalist Casper Ruud in the second round. Hijikata capitalized on this opportunity and defeated Zhang in four sets to secure his place in the fourth round.
As the two players prepare to face off, all eyes will be on Tiafoe to see if he can continue his exceptional form from last year’s tournament. Will Hijikata, the underdog, be able to match Tiafoe’s intensity and cause an upset of his own? Tennis fans around the world eagerly await the outcome of this thrilling fourth-round clash at the US Open.