Rinky Hijikata is an Australian tennis player known for his aggressive baseline play and strong court coverage. Most of his success comes playing doubles but he’s still aiming for a higher rank in the singles. But what about his racquet and gear?
Rinky Hijikata’s tennis racquet
Rinky Hijikata’s racquet is a Yonex Ezone 98. He strings it with a blue string, which is most likely Yonex Polytour Spin, also used by Casper Ruud in a hybrid setup with Polytour Pro.
If you know more about Hijikata’s racquet, please comment below.
Bio and Career
Born on February 23, 2001, in Sydney, he began playing tennis at a very young age and his father was working as a tennis coach. Hijikata eventually turned pro in 2021.
Early Career and Development
Hijikata’s junior career established him as a top talent, reaching a career-high junior singles ranking of no 9 in 2018. Before dedicating himself fully to the pro circuit, he played college tennis in the United States at the University of North Carolina from 2020 to 2021, earning All-American honors.
He claimed his first professional singles title at an ITF event in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 2019. In 2022, he made his Grand Slam main draw debut at the US Open as a wildcard and later won his maiden Challenger title in Playford, Australia, helping him break into the top 200 in the ATP singles rankings.
Career Highlights
Hijikata has achieved great success in both singles and doubles, with his biggest highlight being a major title:
- 2023 Australian Open Doubles Champion: He won the men’s doubles title at his home Grand Slam alongside fellow Australian Jason Kubler.
- 2023 US Open Singles Run: He recorded his best singles performance at a Grand Slam by reaching the fourth round as a wildcard.
- Career-High Rankings: His highest singles ranking is No. 62 (August 2024), and his career-high doubles ranking is No. 23 (October 2023).
- 2025 Wimbledon Doubles Finalist: He reached his second Grand Slam doubles final, partnering with David Pel.
He has also captured several Challenger and ITF titles in both singles and doubles throughout his career.
Follow Rinky on his official Instagram profile where he occasionally posts from his career.