Denis Shapovalov suffered more than expected in his first match of the season, having to come back against an Australian Rinky Hijikata.
tournament draw
tournament results
The first match of the 2023 season for these two tennis players at Adelaide ATP. When the tournament was held in an Australian city, Rinky started as a local player. Shapovalov He had his ups and downs last season, which we are used to, but he had an unbeaten finish. Together with Felix Auger-Aliassime, they won the first Davis Cup in Canadian history in Malaga. Hijikata He, on the other hand, made a name for himself last season when he entered the final of the US Open, winning a set against Rafa Nadal. This matchup would be the first between the two, so the head-to-head was zero.
the first surprise
Hijikata started the game much stronger than the Canadian, which meant he took the lead. On Denis’s first business trip, the Australian managed to implement a important break ball for your benefits. The set went smoothly for both in the following serves, until the local gave the game another blow. With a 5-2 scoreboard, he succeeded placed ballsgot another to take the first set and put Shapovalov against the ropes in his debut.
expected reaction
The second set had nothing to do with the first as Denis made far fewer mistakes and did more damage to Rinky. In the second opening innings of 164, he took advantage of two breaking balls to start his comeback. Despite the fact that we went ahead of the break Shapo did not relax and he tried to keep increasing his advantage so as not to suffer. This turned into another break, when the score was 4-1. Hijikata found himself on the ropes and got a break to try to keep the set. however it was late and the Canadian held his serve to send the game into the third set.
Third batch closed
The final set started evenly, with both holding their serve aware that after the break they were effectively out of the game. The Canadian had max two balls to get it In Hijikata’s second pass, but could not materialize. Thus, the set was 3-3 and at that moment the party broke out. The world number 18 was made to break in his favor and held his serve to shift the pressure to the locals. In the end, another break gave the set and the match to Shapovalov, who advanced to the second round.
