Kubler, Rinky in final
STRAIGHT-SETS SEMI
GOLD Coast-based tennis player Jason Kubler and teammate Rinky Hijikata have progressed through to the Australian Open men’s doubles final.
The duo beat Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-4 6-2 in the semi-final in Melbourne on Thursday to book their place in Sunday’s final where they will play Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinkski.
The win guarantees Kubler a payday of at least $344,000 between his round 2 showing in the singles and for making the doubles final.
Kubler plays out of KDV Sports at Carrara and has turning heads in the tennis world since featuring in the United Cup and Davis Cup for Australia.
The 29-year-old bowed out of the singles after taking a set off Russian Karen Khachanov, who is set to play Stefan Tsitsipas in the semi-finals on Friday, before teaming up with Hijikata, 21, for a doubles journey that has surprised both Australian wildcards.
“This is the first time I’ve played during the day on Rod Laver Arena, so I was, to be honest, a little bit nervous coming out,” Kubler said.
“But then as soon as our energy starts going, I’m not even thinking anymore. I’m just swinging.
“Who would have thought?” Kubler said.
“We both returned unbelievable I thought.
The unlikely duo would be
come the second wildcards to win the Australian Open if they were to win the final, with fellow Aussies Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios the first to do so in 2022.
The semi-final win required all manner of skill from the Australian pairing, with one break of serve enough to win a first set where Kubler found himself hitting a forehand winner from his opponent’s side of the net.
They may not boast the ‘Special Ks’ nickname of Kokkinakis and Kyrgios but Kubler and Hijikata are happy to do it their own way.
With Kubler ranked 163 and Hijikata 277, the duo will need to pull off one more giant upset in order to get past Nys, ranked no. 40 in the world, and no. 36 Zielinski.
Kubler made $158,850 for getting into the second round of the singles draw while making the final guarantees him another $185,000.
The winning team will pocket $695,000 between them while the runner-up pairing receive $370,000.