A dominant Stefanos Tsitsipas has proved a step too far for home hope Rinky Hijikata, as the Greek third seed eased into the Australian Open third round with a 6-3 6-0 6-2 win.
Ranked 169th in the world, wildcard Hijikata went toe to toe with Tsitsipas in the early exchanges and looked capable of making it a contest for the Rod Laver Arena crowd.
But Tsitsipas, a semi-finalist for the last two years and in 2019, seized control, when he broke serve in the sixth game, as Hijikata sent a groundstroke wide.
After that he used his superior firepower to great effect, as he raced away to his second successive straight-sets victory.
Hijikata, 21, managed to stem a seven-game losing streak at the start of the third, but never looked like producing the day's second shock after reigning champion Rafa Nadal was earlier knocked out by American Mackenzie McDonald.
"Felt good out there, the ball was coming off the racket really well," said Tsitsipas, who could become world No.1, if he claims his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
"I enjoyed myself tonight."
"Whenever I'm back here, it feels like home," added the 24-year-old of playing in a city with a large Greek population.
In round three, he will face a Dutch opponent, either 32nd seed Botic van de Zandschulp or Tallon Griekspoor.
Reuters
