Rinky Hijikata: Bio, Age, Height, Ranking & Ethnicity Facts

If you’ve been following Australian tennis recently, you’ve probably come across a name that sounds a little different: Rinky Hijikata. Here’s a fact-grounded look at his bio, his heritage, his stats, and the answers to the most common questions floating around.

Age: 25 (born 23 February 2001) ·
Height: 5’10” (178 cm) ·
Weight: 159 lbs (72 kg) ·
ATP Ranking: 82 (as of 2025) ·
Career-High Singles Ranking: 62 ·
Turned Pro: 2021

Ten facts about Rinky Hijikata, pulled from official and authoritative sources:

What ethnicity is Rinky Hijikata?

• Nationality: Australian — confirmed by every official source.
• Ethnic heritage: Japanese — strongly indicated by his surname and the kanji rendering ( ), and by reports that his parents are Japanese immigrants.
• No official statement from Hijikata detailing his exact ethnic breakdown has been found.

Is Rinky Hijikata Japanese?

His surname Hijikata and the kanji name point directly to Japanese ancestry. Furthermore, a 2025 profile from Bolavip reported that he was born in Sydney to Japanese immigrant parents Junko and Makoto. Hijikata himself has not publicly elaborated on his ethnic background, but the evidence strongly suggests Japanese heritage.

What is his nationality?

He represents Australia in all professional tennis events. His birthplace is Sydney, Australia (ATP Tour profile).

Bottom line: Rinky Hijikata is an Australian professional tennis player with Japanese heritage, but the exact ethnic mix has not been officially detailed by the player or his team.

The implication: Without an official statement, any specific ethnic breakdown remains speculative, though the available clues strongly point to Japanese roots.

Where did Rinky Hijikata go to school?

• High schools: Karabar High School and The King’s School in Sydney (ATP Tour bio).
• College: University of North Carolina (UNC), where he played for the Tar Heels from 2019 to 2021.

High school attended

He attended Karabar High School and later The King’s School, both in the Sydney area, before heading to the United States.

College tennis career

Hijikata enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a tennis scholarship, studying toward a business degree. As a sophomore, he earned All-American honors. The US Open noted that he went from UNC All-America to Grand Slam champion and Olympian in just three years. The UNC roster listed him at 5’11”.

Bottom line: Hijikata’s college tennis stint at UNC provided a launchpad for his professional career, turning him into an All-American and setting the stage for his Olympic debut in 2024.

What this means: His rapid rise from college to professional success underscores the value of his collegiate development.

What is Rinky Hijikata’s ATP ranking?

• Current ranking: No. 82 (as of 2025, per Tennis Australia).
• Career-high singles ranking: No. 62 (26 August 2024, per Wikipedia).
• Career-high doubles ranking: No. 23 (30 October 2023).

Current ranking

As of 2025, his ATP singles ranking sits at No. 82. Tennis Australia’s player page shows a year-end ranking of No. 71 for 2023, No. 73 for 2024, and No. 127 for 2025 — indicating some fluctuation.

Career-high ranking

His best singles ranking is world No. 62, achieved in August 2024, according to both Wikipedia and the Roland Garros player page.

Ranking history

Since turning pro in 2021, Hijikata has climbed steadily, breaking into the top 100 in 2023. His doubles ranking peaked at No. 23, making him a competitive player on both fronts.

Bottom line: Hijikata’s singles ranking has hovered around the 60–80 range, with a clear spike in mid-2024. Consistency will be key to breaking into the top 50.

The pattern: His ranking history shows a promising trajectory, but sustaining top-50 form will require deeper runs at main tour events.

How old is Rinky Hijikata?

• Born 23 February 2001 in Sydney, Australia (ATP Tour).
• As of 2025, he is 25 years old.

Birth date

His date of birth is confirmed by multiple official sources: ATP Tour, Tennis Australia, and Wikipedia all list 23 February 2001.

Age calculation

In 2025, Hijikata turns 25. That puts him in the prime age bracket for male tennis players, where many reach their peak performance.

Bottom line: At 25, Hijikata is still young enough to develop his game and aim for the top 50, but the window for a major breakthrough is narrowing.

The catch: While still in his prime years, the competition from younger players means he cannot afford to plateau.

How tall is Rinky Hijikata?

• Height: 5’10” (178 cm) per ATP Tour profile; 5’11” per UNC roster (likely measured with shoes).
• Weight: 159 lbs (72 kg).

Height in feet and inches

Official ATP Tour data gives 5’10” (178 cm). The UNC athletics site listed 5’11”. Both are within typical range for a professional tennis player.

Weight

Listed at 159 lbs (72 kg) on the ATP Tour profile and other sources.

Bottom line: At 5’10”, Hijikata is slightly shorter than the average male tennis pro, but his athletic background in football and rugby likely gives him explosive movement and agility.

What this means: His height does not appear to be a disadvantage given his proven court coverage and power.

For Australian tennis fans, Hijikata’s trajectory is worth watching. He has already proven he can compete at the highest level — winning an Australian Open doubles title in 2023 and representing his country at the Paris Olympics. The challenge now is converting that promise into a sustained singles run inside the top 50. For the player himself, the choice is clear: build on the momentum of his 2024 peak, or risk being overtaken by the next wave of young talent.

Related reading: Alex Eala: Net Worth, Ranking, Family & Career Achievements · Eliot Spizzirri: Bio, Career & Italian American Roots