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Rising Australian star Rinky Hijikata reveals his dream doubles partners would be either record 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer or Australian tennis legend Rod Laver. Hijikata, who has yet to turn professional, studies and plays college tennis at the University of North Carolina.
"I’d like to play with either Rod Laver or Roger Federer," Hijikata told tennis.com.au. Hijikata, ranked at No. 658 in the world, achieved his career-high ranking of No. 643 in February. The 19-year-old Australian says it was his dad who got him into tennis.
"I was probably three or four when I started playing tennis. My dad is a tennis coach and my older brother and sister used to play. I’d go whenever they practiced and pick up the balls, then while they were having their drink breaks I’d hit a few balls around.
I started hitting against the garage at home. I always had a racquet in my hand and loved it," Hijikata said. "My dad was the one who first got me into tennis, so he’s had a massive influence on me loving the sport. I’ve had a lot of coaches at the National Academy in Sydney who have taught me different things and given me different perspectives on the game.
I’ve learnt a lot from all of them.
Hijikata reveals the encouraging advice he received from John Millman
Millman, who famously stunned Federer at the US Open in 2018, acknowledged to Hijikata that the self belief is one of the most important things in tennis.
"John Millman spoke to us when we were part of the Australian Junior Davis Cup squad and I remember him saying ‘half the battle is believing that you belong at a certain level. Once you believe you can play at that level, it becomes easier’.
I think that’s been really true for myself and I’ve seen that with other guys too. Once you have that belief, it makes it a lot easier to get wins at that level. Half the battle is mental, so that piece of advice really helped," Hijikata revealed.
Hijikata played at Wimbledon boys' singles event and competing at The All England Club was a dream come true for him. "London was pretty cool and being able to play at Wimbledon, that was something ticked off the bucket list. As a kid, I think everyone wants to play at Wimbledon one day. So that was pretty special," Hijikata admitted.