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

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.

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

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

Australia’s Rinky Hijikata is one victory 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.

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.”

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