| Rinky Hijikata Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 10 in |
| Weight | 72 kg |
| Date of Birth | February 23, 2001 |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Girlfriend | Lauren Baddour |
Rinky Hijikata is an Australian professional tennis player who is adept at both the singles and the doubles formats of the sport having been rated as high as world number 119 in singles in February 2023 and world number 35 in doubles in January 2023, as per the official ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) rankings. At Grand Slam tournaments, in the singles format, he had reached the 2nd round of the 2023 Australian Open. Rinky stunned the world in January 2023 when he won the men’s doubles event at the Australian Open.
Born Name
Rinky Hijikata
Nick Name
Rinks
Sun Sign
Pisces
Born Place
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Residence
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality
Education
Rinky had attended The King’s School, Parramatta, an independent Anglican, primary and secondary day and boarding school for boys, located in North Parramatta in the western suburbs of his hometown of Sydney.
After his high school graduation, he joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. There, he played for the North Carolina Tar Heels college tennis team and earned ‘All-American’ honors as a sophomore.
Occupation
Professional Tennis Player
Family
- Father – Makoto Hijikata (Tennis Coach)
- Mother – Junko Hijikata
- Siblings – Shori Hijikata (Swimmer), Kamiyu Hijikata (Swimmer)
Plays
Right-Handed (Two-Handed Backhand)
Turned Pro
2021
Build
Athletic
Height
5 ft 10 in or 178 cm
Weight
72 kg or 158.5 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Rinky has dated –
- Lauren Baddour (2021-Present)
Race / Ethnicity
Asian
He is of Japanese descent.
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Light Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Toned physique
- Short-cropped, center-parted hair
- Affable smile
- Clean-shaven look
Brand Endorsements
He has been sponsored by –
- Fila Holdings Corp. (sportswear manufacturer based in South Korea)
- Yonex Co., Ltd. (Japanese sports equipment manufacturing company)
Rinky Hijikata Favorite Things
- Tennis Shot – Forehand
- Tennis Surface – Hard Court
- Tennis Tournament/Event – Australian Open
- Tennis Idols/Role Models – Lleyton Hewitt, Kei Nishikori
- Cities On The ATP Tour – Melbourne, Sydney
- Sports – Tennis, Soccer, Rugby, Basketball, Swimming, Golf
- Sports Team – Parramatta Eels (Rugby League)
- Athlete – Dan Carter (Rugby Union)
- Cuisine – Japanese
- Food – Ice Cream
- Comic Book Superhero – Spider-Man
- Movie – Inception (2010)
- TV Series – Suits (2011-2019)
- Actress – Margot Robbie
- Musician – Khalid
Rinky Hijikata Facts
- Rinky began playing tennis in his backyard when he was about 4 years old. He also used to compete in soccer, rugby, and swimming during his childhood and youth. He got trained in surf lifesaving as well, for about 2 years. At the youth tier, in tennis, he had achieved a peak world ranking of number 9.
- At the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games, representing an IOC (International Olympic Committee) Mixed-NOC (teams consisting of athletes representing different National Olympic Committees) team, he won the ‘Silver’ medal in the boys’ doubles event.
- In both 2018 and 2019, Rinky won the Newcombe Medal in the category of ‘Best Male Junior Athlete’. The Newcombe Medal, presented annually since 2010, recognizes the performances/achievements of the Australian tennis fraternity. It is named after Australian tennis legend John Newcombe.
- In October 2022, Rinky won his maiden title on the ATP Challenger Tour, a series of international men’s professional tennis tournaments that serve as the 2nd-highest tier of senior men’s tennis competition, just behind the ATP Tour. He also became the youngest Australian to win a title on the ATP Challenger Tour since Alexei Popyrin in 2018.
- In January 2023, he and his partner Jason Kubler won the men’s doubles event at the Australian Open. The pair defeated 3 seeded teams – the 6th seed in the 2nd round, the world number 1 doubles pair in the quarter-final, and the 8th seed in the semi-final – during the tournament.
- The pairing of Rinky and Jason had also saved a match point in the 3rd round of the tournament. Upon winning the final, they became the 2nd consecutive all-Australian champions at the event (the pairing of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis had won the men’s doubles event at the 2022 Australian Open).
Featured Image by Rinky Hijikata / Instagram
