This Australian almost missed out on playing doubles. Now he’s into the Wimbledon final

7 hours ago 4

From alternates to potential Wimbledon champions.

Australia’s Rinky Hijikata is one win from becoming a dual grand slam doubles winner after partnering Dutchman David Pel to a wild 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (11-9) win over top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic.

Rinky Hijikata (right) and David Pel didn’t know each other two weeks ago, but are one win from the Wimbledon title.

Hijikata, who won the 2023 Australian Open doubles title in similarly improbable fashion with countryman Jason Kubler, sealed victory with a brilliant forehand winner on the run that sparked extraordinary scenes in front of a raucous crowd.

After Pel fell on his back and tossed his racquet metres in the air, the 24-year-old Sydneysider swung around to his team, including coach Mark Draper, and pointed to his left arm in an NBA-style “ice in my veins” celebration.

Pel then ran over to Hijikata and lifted him in the air as a deafening roar broke out on a packed court one.

“[That was] crazy. I guess a fair bit of relief to get through that one, but it was so much fun to be a part of that match,” Hijikata said.

“The crowd was going nuts, and playing on court one at Wimbledon – it doesn’t get much better than that. It was three hours of, I thought, quality tennis, and [it was] just pure relation at the end there.

“We’ve had a big focus on staying cool under pressure, playing free and trying to go after it in the big moments, and back yourself … I was telling [my team afterwards] that I’ve got ice in my veins. We came up with some good stuff when we needed to.”

Hijikata and Pel snuck into the draw only because another team withdrew, and saved match points in three separate contests – including this semi-final – to book their spot in the final against fifth-seeded British pairing Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool.

The doubles champions on Saturday will each take home more than $700,000.

Australia’s Hijikata has had a successful fortnight at Wimbledon.

Hijikata is already guaranteed almost $356,000 just for making the final after collecting $205,000 for reaching the second round in singles, where he lost to American star Ben Shelton.

The only interaction Hijikata and Pel had before teaming up for this tournament was a doubles match against each other in s’Hertogenbosch, in Holland, two years ago.

“I left it pretty late to find a partner for Wimbledon, and I guess it wasn’t on my mind at the time,” Hijikata said.

“I saw David’s name on the rankings, and I remember playing him in s’Hertogenbosch a few years ago, [and that] he had a big serve, was a lefty, and was really good on the grass.

“So, I was like, ‘I may as well see if he’s interested to play’, and now here we are. It’s worked out unbelievably.”

In a chaotic third-set match tie-breaker to complete a tight semi-final, Hijikata and Pel shot 4-0 ahead – including the Australian conjuring a spectacular cross-court backhand winner – only to lose six of the next seven points.

The momentum kept going with Arevalo and Pavic, who held a pair of match points when they led 9-7. That is when the drama truly started.

Pel hit a tough half-volley to keep his team alive before Hijikata produced another great angled backhand to pull them within one point of equalling the tie-breaker, before the Aussie nailed a forehand at Pavic to make it nine-all.

Hijikata and Pel have proven to be an instant hit on the doubles court at Wimbledon.

Enter the Dutchman, who made the bold choice to clock his forehand return down the doubles alley, and he was rewarded with a winner, which he celebrated by running into the corner of the court with high knees.

That brought up match point, and Hijikata did the rest.

“It was a great shot, I have to say,” Pel said of his forehand at nine-all.

“I didn’t hit that the whole match, maybe once, and that was the right moment to play that shot, down the line, forehand in the alley. Unbelievable celebration also – I just watched it back in the studio. I was like, ‘What was I doing there?’ ... all emotions.”

Australians Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell lost last year’s Wimbledon final, while Purcell partnered Matt Ebden to the 2022 men’s doubles title at the All England club.

Two decades have passed since Australia’s Stephen Huss and South African Wesley Moodie came from qualifying to stun American doubles stars Bob and Mike Bryan in the 2005 final.