Hijikata Continues Top 100 Charge With Opening Newport Win

Rinky Hijikata continued his charge towards the world’s Top 100 on Monday with a straight-sets win in Newport.

The Australian defeated Abdullah Shelbayh 6-3, 6-4 without losing serve to reach the second round of the Infosys Hall of Fame Open.

“It’s great. It’s my first time playing here and I was really looking forward to it,” Hijikata said. “I’ve heard great things about the tournament and then to get to play on centre court my first match here was pretty cool. And I was very, very happy to get through the match today.”

The 22-year-old climbed to No. 110 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings with his victory. Hijikata, who advanced to his first ATP Tour singles semi-final last month in ’s-Hertogenbosch, saved the only break point he faced on the Rhode Island grass.

“I’ve said it a lot before but I love playing on the grass,” said Hijikata, who will next play second seed Adrian Mandarin. “Any tournament that’s on the grass, I feel at home and I’m pumped to play. I’m stoked that I got through my first round and I have the chance to play hopefully another match and maybe a couple more.”

Hijikata’s countryman, seventh seed Jordan Thompson, ousted American Aleksandar Vukic 6-0, 6-1. Thompson has made both his previous ATP Tour finals (’s-Hertogenbosch in 2019 and 2023) on grass.

In other action, Liam Broady defeated Shintaro Mochizuki 6-1, 7-5 and Corentin Moutet eliminated University of Texas college standout Eliot Spizzirri 7-6(7), 6-0.