De Minaur Triumphs in Cincinnati Open as Hijikata Falls Short

In a determined display, Alex de Minaur has secured his place in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open, defeating top-ranked Brit Arthur Fery 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) in a match that faced multiple weather interruptions.

The fifth-seeded Australian navigated the rain delays and initial struggles to overcome Fery, who recently surged into the world's top 50 following his impressive Wimbledon run. The match lasted two hours and 22 minutes, with de Minaur showcasing resilience after a shaky start.

His compatriot, Rinky Hijikata, did not share the same fortune, losing 6-3, 6-4 to 14th seed Jakub Mensik. De Minaur's next challenge will be against either ninth-seeded Jiri Lehecka or 21st seed Arthur Fils, as he aims to capitalize on this momentum.

Reflecting on his performance, de Minaur emphasized the importance of perseverance, stating, "I’m happy with the way I found a way. I take confidence out of these types of tough wins, and hopefully every day I feel better and play better." This marks a significant moment for de Minaur, as he last reached the fourth round in Cincinnati in 2019.

Source: www.abc.net.au