Rinky Hijikata’s career night unravels after midnight in Australian Open loss to Jan-Lennard Struff

Local favourite Rinky Hijikata has missed out on the biggest win of his career after hopes of an Australian Open over 24th seed Jan-Lennard Struff unravelled in a fifth-set match tiebreak.

The 22-year-old Aussie made it all the way to the fourth round of the US Open last year but didn’t have to face a top-50 star to do so.

And so it was challenge accepted when he came up against Struff on Monday night as a back-and-forth encounter became an entertaining five-setter that finished well after midnight inside a packed Court 3.

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Hijikata was in prime position to push for victory after breaking the German in the first game of the final set but Struff returned the favour to level things up at 4-4.

The Aussie was soon just two points away from being sent home before four strong holds from the pair sent the match down to the wire — a 10-point tiebreaker that quickly swung towards Struff.

Hijikata twice cut Struff’s lead in the breaker from four down to two, the second time with an impressive forehand winner down the line.

He edged closer again at 7-8 and 8-9 but Struff sealed a 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (10-8) victory on his second match point just before the clock ticked over to four hours.

Struff will face Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round.

Hijikata’s five-set defeat followed fellow Aussie James Duckworth suffering his fourth such loss at Melbourne Park.

Duckworth, ranked 95th in the world but in the main draw on a wildcard, fought hard before France’s world No.79 Luca Van Assche took out a 6-7 (7-2) 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-3 victory earlier in Monday’s first-round action.

He has now lost five-set matches in the first round of the Australian Open on three occasions, in 2020, 2022 and 2024.

Duckworth played his first five-set matches at the Australian Open back in 2013, defeating countryman Ben Mitchell in the first round before falling to Blaz Kavcic in the second.

He gained revenge over Kavcic with his own five-set win in the first round of the 2015 tournament.