AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2026

Rinky Hijikata

Press Conference

V. VACHEROT/R. Hijikata

6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Rinky, sorry for your result today. If you want to talk us through the four sets in your own experience?

RINKY HIJIKATA: Yeah, I guess, it was a tough one today. I thought Valentin played really well. I thought he had his serve going and, you know, was hitting it well from the back of the court, too.

Yeah, I feel like maybe I just didn't have my best stuff today, unfortunately, but I feel like I've got to give a lot of credit to him for making me feel uncomfortable out there, also.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Rinky, when you won the third set, did you feel like you might be able to get a bit of a roll on and really sort of fight your way back into the match?

RINKY HIJIKATA: Yeah, I mean, I wasn't going to go down without giving it everything I've got. Yeah, I was, I guess, just trying to stay out there as long as possible. I felt like, you know, I just wanted to give myself a chance to kind of get my teeth into the match, and I thought I did that in the third set.

I still felt like I wasn't feeling the ball amazing, but I somehow managed to kind of just stay in there and jag a break. I was just hoping at some point I'd start finding it, and, you know, yeah, maybe I'd lift it eventually. Just, yeah, didn't seem to kind of happen for me today.

Q. You were just saying about his serve working. Do you think that was the real difference in the match, that that serve was paying dividends?

RINKY HIJIKATA: I mean, I knew he was always going to be serving really well. I think if you look at our two games side-by-side, he's obviously going to have the advantage on the serve.

I think I just had to do a better job of capitalizing on the extended points and then, you know, getting more inroads into his service games and taking care of my serve a little bit better. I just didn't do a good enough job today. Yeah, pretty plain and simple.

I feel like I was giving him a lot of free errors, free points at the wrong times and just couldn't kind of maintain any sort of pressure, and, yeah, just wasn't good enough.

Q. He's obviously had a pretty record-breaking rise to be a seed here for this tournament. Does that sort of give you encouragement that you could have a similar run and maybe that there's a big breakthrough for yourself just around the corner?

RINKY HIJIKATA: Yeah, for sure. I think he's a great story of what happens if you can just kind of put your head down and keep plugging away, you know.

You know, we played in a final of a Future, a 15K, three, four years ago, and now we're playing at second round of the Aussie Open. So, yeah, a lot can change quickly, and I feel like his story has given a lot of hope for a lot of other players.

I think it's very well-deserved, because I've seen, you know, when we're at those Futures, we're staying onsite together. We're, a lot of times, the only two players in the gym throughout the week, throughout the tournament.

You know, I've seen how hard he works, so it's deserved. Yeah, it just goes to show what can happen if you keep putting your head down.

Q. When you played him in that final in Monastir to now, do you see a difference in him as a person, as a player, or is it pretty much the same?

RINKY HIJIKATA: I mean, I'm sure he's running high on confidence right now. You know, winning breeds confidence, and, yeah, there's no, kind of, being able to fake that or anything.

With the results he's had the last four or five months, obviously, yeah, he's playing really well. He's got a lot of wins under his belt. I feel like, yeah, he's just playing good tennis. He's serving big under pressure.

I feel like his game is similar to a couple of years ago. Obviously he's made a few improvements. But, yeah, overall I still feel like it's not like something's drastically changed in his game. I just feel like he's doing everything probably a little bit better.

Q. I was going to say, is it a case of nothing breeds success like success?

RINKY HIJIKATA: Yeah, I mean, yeah, it's true. You know, when you are winning and you got the hot hand, it seems relatively easy out there sometimes.

And then the opposite can be true, too. You know, when you're having a tough stretch and you're not winning many matches, that can also be very tough to kind of get through the tight moments and, yeah, I guess get through those matches.

But, you know, I feel like I've played well over the summer, and I've got a few wins, so I'm hoping I can keep it rolling.

Q. What's next for you now, Rinky? What are your plans and goals for the rest of '26?

RINKY HIJIKATA: That's a good question. I'm entered in a Challenger next week in San Diego and still undecided whether I'm going to go there. I have got to, I guess, chat with my team and see what we're going to do. Then I've got Davis Cup in Ecuador.

So, obviously, any time you get to play for Australia, that's a massive honor, and I'm looking forward to that.

Q. On a lighter note, this afternoon, Nick and Thanasi, Jason and Marc, the last, you and Jason won. How come you didn't join up again on this occasion?

RINKY HIJIKATA: Yeah, good question. We lost 2 and Love last year (laughter). I don't know, I feel like -- I feel like, yeah, I don't know. We're both kind of focusing on our singles. I honestly don't think we actually pair up that well together on the doubles court. I still don't know how we won the Aussie Open. Honestly, it's a miracle.

But I feel like our games are not actually that compatible as a pair. I think he may have more success with Marc than he does with me. No, it's going to be a good match. I'll be tuned in. I mean, I still, obviously, want all the best for Kubs. I love tuning in and watching him play. Yeah, maybe he's better off without me.

Q. Who will win?

RINKY HIJIKATA: It's a good question. I don't know. I'll be, yeah, keen to watch, and I'll be glad I'm not at the receiving end at the net of some of those forehands, yeah.

Q. Obviously just a handful of Aussies left now in the main draw. Demon through last night. What do you think he's capable of?

RINKY HIJIKATA: I don't think you can write him off, you know. He comes back every year, and he's better every year. He just keeps on improving. You know, his work ethic is off the charts. He does everything to try and maximize his potential.

So I think you would be stupid to write him off, you know. I've seen plenty of people put a ceiling on him his whole career, and even now obviously everyone -- well, not everyone, but a lot of people saying he's never going to be able to beat the top guys and win a slam. But, yeah, I think you would be stupid to write him off, yeah.

Q. Is the Ecuador tie in Guayaquil or Quito?

RINKY HIJIKATA: In Quito.

Q. So you've got altitude.

RINKY HIJIKATA: Yeah, a bit of altitude.

Q. How do you feel about that?

RINKY HIJIKATA: Well, it's going to be different. I've never played that high before. Yeah, it will be a good challenge, I'm sure.

I'm hoping the atmosphere is going to be good. It's obviously my first away tie, so I'm pumped. Yeah, I'll be ready to go.