Hijikata goes from lucky loser to Adelaide International quarterfinalist

Australia’s Rinky Hijikata continues to make the most of his late call-up at the Adelaide International, advancing to the quarterfinals with a tough three-set win over Brandon Nakashima.

Hijikata lost in the final round of qualifying but gained main-draw entry as a lucky loser (a player who is added to the main draw following an injury withdrawal). 

He took the first set over American seventh seed Nakashima on Wednesday and prevailed in a third-set tie-break, winning 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5).

Hijikata will next play top seed Tommy Paul, who defeated Manuel Guinard in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Fellow Australians Chris O’Connell and Li Tu experienced contrasting fortunes to Hijikata, bowing out with defeats in the round of 16.

O’Connell was beaten 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 by Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanović, while Tu was handed a 6-3, 6-3 loss by French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi.

Kecmanovic will meet Bonzi in the quarterfinals.

Second-seeded American Sebastian Korda also reached the quarterfinals when he swept aside Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6-3.

Canada’s fifth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime will face American Marcos Giron in the last eight after coming from a set down to defeat France’s Arthur Cazaux, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Giron beat Denis Shapovalov 7-5, 6-2 to move through to the quarterfinals.

AAP