Qualifier Hijikata Storms Into Paris Second Round and Earns Shot at Djokovic

Rinky Hijikata's dream week at the Rolex Paris Masters continued on Monday as the Australian qualifier swept past Italy's Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour. It was Hijikata's third win in three days in the French capital, following two qualifying victories over Jaime Faria and Vit Kopriva at the weekend. Ranked world number 83 and playing the Paris Masters for the first time, Hijikata barely put a foot wrong against Darderi, racing through both sets with the confidence of a player who has already found his rhythm on the indoor hard courts. The reward is a high-profile second-round tie against the winner of the match between 10th seed Novak Djokovic and Monaco's Valentin Vacherot — a stage far removed from the qualifying courts where his week began. Hijikata's run is a reminder of how quickly a tournament can change for a qualifier in form: three matches, three wins, and now a chance to test himself against one of the sport's greats with nothing to lose.