Rinky Hijikata’s Davis Cup debut just took on a whole new level of importance after a disastrous day in Sydney including Alex de Minaur’s shock defeat in a match marred by lack of help for his badly cramping opponent left Australia 2-0 down and staring down the barrel of an exit before the finals.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
After world No.8 de Minaur’s loss to Belgian world no.91 Raphael Collignon, who couldn’t run at stages and didn’t know how he won the three-hour opening rubber on Saturday, compatriot Jordan Thompson was demolished in a straight-sets loss to Zizou Bergs which only lasted 96 minutes.
It leaves the home team needing three victories, including from Hijikata and Olympic gold medallist Matt Ebden in the doubles, as well as bounce-back wins in the reverse singles from de Minaur and Thompson on Sunday, to progress to the quarter-finals in Italy.
Home court advantage in Australia’s first home Davis Cup tie since 2022 did little to help as Collignon overcame cramping so bad he was writhing in agony on Ken Rosewall Arena to win in three sets across a monstrous three hours and 12 minutes.
Rules dictate a medical timeout can’t be called midgame for cramping and at one stage Collignon was forced to sacrifice a point he was suffering so badly, which left Australian great Todd Woodbridge ropeable in commentary.
“This is so, so stupid from a professional that there isn’t a physio there” Aussie tennis champion Todd Woodbridge said on the Ch. 9 broadcast.
“Someone get the physio there for heaven’s sake … this is a health issue now.”
Collignon’s body appeared on borrowed time and there was even an inkling he was about to retire from the match when he removed his hat and approached the net.
But it wasn’t the end and Collignon, who broke into the world’s top 100 at the US Open, continued to rocket through games and with aggression and an all-or-nothing attitude.
His power ultimately proved too much for de Minaur who succumbed to the Belgian late in the final set and he secured an unforgettable 7-5 3-6 6-3.
“It feels amazing, I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish the match because I got cramp so bad at the beginning of the third,” he said after his win.
“I tried to play with that strength, tried to go for it, focus on the serve and I don’t know how I won, yeah, crazy.
“I think when you play for your country there is no pain … I am very happy I won.”
Given his chance to get the tie on level pegging, Thompson took the first set against his higher-ranked opponent to a tie-break, after recovering from being 3-1 down, but lost and threw little challenges at his fired-up opponent in the second set.
Thompson, who has battled injuries in the second half of 2025, lost 7-6, 6-4 as Bergs declared how much the Davis Cup meant to his and his team and the culture instilled by captain Steve Darcis who played 25 times and is trying to drive Belgium to their first ever title.
“We grow up with it, we have a beautiful idol on the bench with us, Steve, he’s our Mr Davis Cup,” Bergs said.
“He was very inspirational and that has brought the culture in me and the other guys, seeing those other guys performing, twice making the final, is very inspirational.”
Australia has made the finals in Italy for the past three years, were runners up in 2022 and 2023 and semi-finalists last year.
Discussion about this post