Rinky Hijikata stunned last year's Queen's finalist Jiri Lehecka by fighting from a set down to reach the quarter-finals on Thursday.

Hijikata continued his fine run from qualifying and did not let his head drop after going a set down to record his 4-6 7-5 7-6 (9-7) win in a marathon two-hour-and-49-minute clash.

Lehecka got a break in the opening game of the match and did not look back from there, despite Hijikata defending two more break points shortly after.

The Czech did well to hold onto his serve in the first set, with Hijikata unable to convert two break points of his own, but the same could not be said in the second.

The pair traded breaks twice, with neither able to maintain their advantage until Hijikata forced a decider after Lehecka was broken in the final game.

Hijikata fended off two break points in the opener of the third set, but that was the only sniff either player had for the rest of the match, with a tie-break needed to settle things.

Lehecka kept fighting back, but Hijikata eventually got over the line on his fourth match point.

He will be joined in the final eight at Queen's by Tommy Paul, who produced a gritty display to earn a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 victory over Botic van de Zandschulp.

Paul will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who took just one hour and 39 minutes to best Corentin Moutet.

Hijikata will have to wait to find out his opponent in the next round, however. The match between Hamad Medjedovic and Ugo Humbert was suspended due to darkness after the pair split sets on Thursday.

Hijikata digs deep to clinch the upset

"It was all pretty difficult. I went down an early break in both the first and second sets," Hijikata said in his on-court interview, but it was his fighting spirit that ensured he came out on top.

Lehecka was the second seed and a finalist at this tournament last year, but for the second time as a qualifier, Hijikata ensured he would be booking his place in the last eight, also doing so in 2024.

And Paul is also enjoying being back out on the Queen's courts, having missed last year's event due to injury.

The American was the champion in 2024 and has now won seven straight matches at the tournament after he recovered from an unsteady start.

Paul now boasts an impressive 9-2 record at Queen's, having defeated five top-50 opponents on his way to that 2024 title.