Introduction
Luca Van Assche is having the best week of his young tennis career. The French star beat Rinky Hijikata on Friday, November 6, 2026, in Paris. The win sent him into his first big semi-final. Fans in France are very happy. Tennis is a sport where two players hit a small ball over a net with a racket.
What Happened
Van Assche won the match 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5. The match lasted two hours and 44 minutes. It was played on the main court in Paris. Van Assche won the first set 6-4. Hijikata won the second set in a tiebreak. A tiebreak is a short game that decides a set when the score is 6-6.
Hijikata led 2-0 in the third set. But Van Assche did not give up. He fought back and won the last game without losing a point. He then won the match on his first match point. Hijikata hit his last shot into the net. Van Assche hit 13 aces in the match. An ace is a serve that the other player cannot touch.
Why People Are Talking About It
Hijikata was the big story of the week before this match. He had beaten Novak Djokovic in an earlier round. Djokovic is one of the greatest tennis players ever. Hijikata also beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry. He came through the qualifying rounds to reach the main event. That means he had to win extra matches just to enter the event.
This win is also huge for Van Assche. He is ranked No. 47 in the world. The win will move him into the top 35. He had never reached a Masters 1000 semi-final before. A Masters 1000 is one of the biggest tennis events in the world. He beat Leandro Riedi, Learner Tien, and Lorenzo Musetti to get here.
What Happens Next
Van Assche will now play Ben Shelton in the semi-final on Saturday. Shelton is the third seed in Paris. A seed is a top player who is ranked high in the event. Shelton beat Tommy Paul 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 earlier on Friday. The winner of this match will play in the final.
Final Thoughts
Van Assche showed great heart in this match. He was losing in the last set, but he stayed calm. He won eight of the last ten points. That is how you win a big match. Fans will now watch to see if he can beat Shelton too.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Sources: Tennis Majors
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