Large-slaying Aussie wildcard surges into the fourth spherical of US Open with one other dominant efficiency at Flushing Meadows

Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata has continued his audacious run by way of the US Open draw to cost into the fourth spherical at Flushing Meadows.

Hijikata resisted a stirring fightback from Chinese language trailblazer Zhizhen Zhang to publish a 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-3 victory over the world No.67 and scamper into the final 16 on the season’s last grand slam.

The landmark win secured the 22-year-old a fourth-round date with American tenth seed Frances Tiafoe on Monday (AEST), a contemporary career-high rating contained in the world’s prime 80 and a minimal pay day of $US284,000 ($A440,000).

That nearly doubles Hijikata’s earnings in an already-breakout season that featured a maiden grand slam doubles crown with countryman Jason Kubler on the Australian Open in January.

Hijiikata had introduced his arrival to New York followers final yr when he seized the opening set from Rafael Nadal in an electrifying first-round encounter below lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Rinky Hijikata has continued his spectacular run by way of the US Open draw to cost into the fourth spherical at Flushing Meadows

The Australian wildcard is assured to go away Flushing Meadows with at the least $440,000 in prizemoney

However few might have predicted a yr on the world No.110 would characteristic within the second week at Flushing Meadows, particularly after Hijikata wanted Tennis Australia’s generosity of a wildcard entry into the principle draw.

However the Sydney-born son of Japanese immigrant mother and father has greater than vindicated TA’s religion with an impressed run.

Moments after his first-round win over Pavel Kotov, Hijikata was left rocked by a fatal shooting at his girlfriend’s college, the College of North Carolina the place he additionally spent two years learning.

He devoted his second-round win over Marton Fucsovics to his former schoolmates and celebrated wildly after claiming a 3rd straight higher-ranked scalp on Friday night time.

Clubbing winners off each wings, Hijikata had Zheng below the pump from the get-go.

Hijikata subsequent faces native hope and tenth seed Frances Tiafoe for a spot within the quarter-finals

Clearly weary from vitality sapping five-set wins in his opening two matches, together with an monumental upset victory over seventh seed and 2022 Open runner-up Casper Ruud, Zheng needed to combat off eight break factors within the first two units.

However Hijikata could not be denied, ultimately blasting to a two-set lead with three service breaks as Zheng struggled to deal with the Australian’s firepower.

Bravely bidding to turn into the primary Chinese language man within the 56-year open period to make the final 16 of a grand slam, Zheng made one final stand regardless of needing two medical time-outs for a again subject.

Shortening the factors, Zheng’s daring techniques paid off as he snatched the third set after an epic service sport lasting virtually 10 minutes.

However the effort damage the 26-year-old as Hijikata upped the ante and gained two decisive breaks within the fourth set earlier than sealing victory together with his twelfth ace on his first match level after three hours and 10 minutes on courtroom.