Court 10 at Wimbledon was the setting on Monday for a grinding opening-round encounter that had everything that makes tennis so unpredictable: light interruptions, a two-sets-to-one deficit, and an outcome that only became clear in the final games. Jesper de Jong came through against Rinky Hijikata 7:6, 3:6, 5:7, 6:4, 6:3 — in approximately four hours and twenty minutes on grass.
Tiebreak Drama to Open
The first set set the tone for the entire match: neither player was troubled on serve, leaving the tiebreak to settle matters. De Jong held his nerve and took it 7:4 — a small but crucial advantage in a match that was far from over.
Hijikata, who had arrived in London off a convincing grass-court preparation — reaching the quarterfinal at Queen's Club as a qualifier and beating 2025 Wimbledon finalist Jiri Lehecka along the way — was not rattled by dropping the opening set. The Australian seized control in the second and won it comfortably, 6:3.
Light Stoppage and Hijikata Takes the Lead
Play was suspended after the first set due to poor light conditions. When the match resumed, Hijikata produced his best tennis. He took the third set 7:5 as well, moving ahead two sets to one — leaving de Jong with his back against the wall.
Statistically, the two players were closely matched: first-serve percentages sat at 57 and 59 per cent respectively, while both converted exactly 29 per cent of their break points. Ultimately, the decisive factor was Hijikata's inability to convert enough of his break point chances — a weakness that would cost him the match.
De Jong Turns It Around — and Takes the Victory
But de Jong — who had won the Parma Challenger shortly before Wimbledon and arrived at the tournament full of confidence — refused to yield. In the fourth set the Dutchman rediscovered his rhythm, raised the level of his return game, and secured the set 6:4. The fifth set became a battle of nerves: de Jong kept the cooler head and closed out 6:3.
Notably, de Jong won the match despite a broadly comparable overall point tally — a testament to how much tennis is decided by winning the right points at the right moments. With 19 aces, he also underlined the importance of his serve on the fast surface.
The second-round berth at Wimbledon matches de Jong's best-ever result at the world's most prestigious Grand Slam. His next opponent is Brazilian youngster Joao Fonseca — a challenge that will once again demand everything he has. Hijikata, who claimed the 2023 Australian Open doubles title alongside Jason Kubler, exits in the first round despite an impressive build-up.
