Aleksandar Vukic beats Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach Adelaide International last 16 alongside Rinky Hijikata

Inspired qualifier Aleksandar Vukic is savouring one of the biggest wins of his late-blooming career after dumping former Australian Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas from the Adelaide International.

Vukic held his nerve and serve when it mattered most to carve out a rousing 7-6(7/3), 7-6(7/5) victory over the Greek superstar to complete a banner day for the home hopes at Memorial Drive.

In a rare match of no service breaks, Vukic was clutch in both tiebreakers to join Rinky Hijikata and hometown hero Thanasi Kokkinakis in the last 16 of the Australian Open tune-up.

The 29-year-old said he fed off the energy of the crowd to pull through.

"I was talking to my team today and I'm just in awe of this stadium and the [Adelaide Oval] cricket ground that's just there," Vukic said.

"It's my first time experiencing that as well, going inside there, and the centre court's very special.

"To see everyone here — it's pretty packed — so I appreciate the support, appreciate them helping me out tonight and it was an awesome win for me."

Vukic attributed his great start to the new season to his breakout year in 2025, when he debuted for Australia's Davis Cup team at age 29.

"It's been awesome," he said.

"I'm about to hit 30, but I feel like I'm at my peak. It's only going to get better."

On the flip side, 27-year-old Tsitsipasis is enduring his worst run in years.

The former world number three has been a regular in the top rankings since 2018 but fell out of the top 20 in June and out of the top 30 in November to sit 33rd coming into the Australian Open.

It seems a lifetime ago that he reached the 2023 final in Melbourne, much less his run to the 2021 French Open final, where he took the first two sets only to lose in five to Novak Djokovic.

Vukic's reward for taking out the seventh seed is a clash with fellow qualifier Andrea Vavassori for a place in the quarterfinals.

Earlier, Rinky Hijikata won an all-Australian shootout to earn a date with top seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Hijikata struck eight aces and 25 winners to see off wildcard compatriot Tristan Schoolkate 6-4, 6-4 in just 79 minutes.

Despite the straight-sets result, Hijikata said he never really enjoyed facing a countryman, especially a higher-ranked one.

Schoolkate is ranked 97th in the world, 18 spots above Hijikata.

"Tristan's had one hell of a year and I'm super-pumped to see him starting the year in the top 100 — I've got a bit of catching up [to do] this year," Hijikata said.

Kokkinakis remains in doubt for his second-round clash on Wednesday with Monaco''s fifth seed Valentin Vacherot after suffering yet another injury in his tenacious three-set victory over Sebastian Korda on Monday night.

The luckless 29-year-old carried a painful shoulder problem throughout the match.

Click here to read article