Rinky Hijikata defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis 7–6, 6–2 in the first round of the ATP 250 Brisbane tournament on hard court on 2 January 2024, upsetting the pre-match favourite Kokkinakis. Hijikata, who entered as the underdog at 2.71 odds against Kokkinakis's 1.52, controlled the second set decisively after a competitive opening frame that went to a tiebreak. The Australian's victory represents a significant upset in Brisbane's opening round and suggests momentum heading into the tournament's deeper stages.