Adelaide, Australia, 3 January 2023 | Leigh Rogers

Rinky Hijikata has once again demonstrated he can push the world’s best players, extending world No.18 Denis Shapovalov to three sets at the Adelaide International today.

The 23-year-old Canadian eventually prevailed 2-6 6-4 6-3 against the Aussie qualifier in their first-round showdown at The Drive.

Hijikata has proven fearless against top-ranked players, memorably taking a set from world No.2 Rafael Nadal in his Grand Slam main-draw debut at last year’s US Open.

Today the 21-year-old from Sydney, who has been awarded an Australian Open 2023 main-draw wildcard, was facing a top 20-ranked player for only the third time in his young career.

There were no nerves for world No.164 Hijikata, who made a confident start and conceded only four points on serve in a dominant opening set.

However, the experienced Shapovalov, who has been ranked as high as world No.10 and helped Canada win a first Davis Cup title last season, fought back to claim a hard-fought victory in two hours.

Storm Hunter, partnering world No.1 Katerina Siniakova in the women’s doubles competition, was the sole Australian winner today.

The top seeds posted a 6-2 6-2 win against Veronika Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova.

The Adelaide International, a combined ATP 250 and WTA 500 event, is part of a two-week Adelaide Festival of Tennis. The festival includes back-to-back tournaments and concludes on 14 January.

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AUSSIES IN ACTION – Adelaide

TODAY’S RESULTS
Men’s singles, first round
[7] Denis Shapovalov (CAN) d [Q] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) 2-6 6-4 6-3

Women’s singles, first round
[Q] Claire Liu (USA) d [WC] Priscilla Hon (AUS) 4-6 6-3 6-3

Men’s doubles, first round
Mackenzie McDonald (USA)/Marcelo Melo (BRA) d Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)/Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-3 ret.
Nicolas Barrientos (COL)/Ariel Behar (URU) d [WC] John Millman (AUS)/Edward Winter (AUS) 6-1 4-6 [12-10]
Jannik Sinner (ITA)/Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) d [WC] James Duckworth (AUS)/Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 6-4 6-3

Women’s doubles, second round
[1] Storm Hunter (AUS)/Katerina Siniakova (CZE) d Veronika Kudermetova/Liudmila Samsonova 6-2 6-2
Cristina Bucsa (ESP)/Makoto Ninomiya (JPN) d [3] Ellen Perez (AUS)/Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) 3-6 6-4 [10-8]

COMING UP
Men’s singles, second round
[WC] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v [6] Jannik Sinner (ITA)
[Q] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v Marcos Giron (USA)

> VIEW: Full Adelaide International men’s singles draw

Men’s doubles, second round
[8] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi(PAK) v Jannik Sinner (ITA)/Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)

Women’s doubles, quarterfinals
[1] Storm Hunter (AUS)/Katerina Siniakova (CZE) v TBC

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