Hijikata rallies past Etcheverry for biggest quarter-final and best ranking of his career in Paris
Qualifier Rinky Hijikata, the world No. 83, came from a set down again to beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 and reach the biggest quarter-final of his career at Rolex Paris. A day after rallying past Novak Djokovic, the 25-year-old is the first qualifier into the last eight in Paris since Hugo Gaston in 2021, with Musetti or Van Assche up next.
Rinky Hijikata, Rolex Paris Masters 2026 | © Michael Baucher / Michael Baucher / Psnewz
Hijikata is the first qualifier to reach the quarter-finals in Paris since Hugo Gaston in 2021. The 25-year-old reaches his ninth ATP Tour quarter-final, the biggest of his career.
He also becomes the ninth active Australian to reach a Masters 1000 quarter-final. This quarter-final leave him to No. 59 in the live rankings, above his career high of No. 62.
Hijikata faces Musetti or Van Assche next in Paris
Hijikata came through qualifying with wins over Portugal’s Jaime Faria, 6-3, 6-4, and the Czech Republic’s Vit Kopriva, 7-6 (5), 6-2. He then beat Italy’s Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2 before rallying past Serbia’s Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in 2 hours 16 minutes on Wednesday.
“It took a lot. I was getting outplayed in the first set and had to hang tough,” Hijikata told Sky Sports after beating Djokovic.
Etcheverry had opened his week with a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3) win over Russia’s Andrey Rublev in 2 hours 52 minutes. He then beat Australia’s Alex de Minaur, ranked No. 9, 7-6 (2), 6-3 for the first top-10 win of his career, at the 21st attempt.
Rolex Paris Masters 2026 third-round results
Lorenzo Musetti vs Luca Van Assche
Rinky Hijikata (Q) d. Tomas Martin Etcheverry 2-6, 6-3, 7-5
Ben Shelton (3) d. Arthur Rinderknech 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Tommy Paul (12) d. Quentin Halys 7-6 (3), 6-4
Jan-Lennard Struff (SE) vs Casper Ruud
Nuno Borges (LL) vs Ignacio Buse
Arthur Fils (6) vs Taylor Fritz (11)
Carlos Alcaraz (2) d. Matteo Berrettini w/o
In bold: today’s results.
