The Australian, ranked No.117 in the world, had been on a sizzling run at the ATP 1000 hardcourt event in Indian Wells, registering his first-ever win over a top-10 player when he beat Russian-born Kazakhstani 10th seed Alexander Bublik in the third round.
However, his brilliant efforts to progress so far took their toll and he proved no match for English left-hander Cameron Norrie, who won their fourth-round clash 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT).
It was the second Aussie scalp for the 27th-seeded Norrie, who stunned world No.6 Alex de Minaur in straight sets in round three.
Norrie, who won this tournament in 2021, broke the Australian in the first game of the match and always looked in control, offering up only one break point - which Hijikata could not take - in the entire contest while capitalising on three of the six he had himself.
The win puts Norrie into the last eight here for the first time since 2023, where he will face world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Norway's Casper Ruud 6-1 7-6 (7-2).
"It was a match where obviously I was the favourite on paper and I just feel really confident all week," Norrie said.
"I've been moving well, the ball has been feeling so good off the racquet and I'm relaxed before the match so I can enjoy the match.
"(Hijikata) served really well midway through the first set to the middle of the second set, but I was giving him nothing on my first serve and kept taking confidence away from him ... then I managed to sneak in an extra break at the end which helped."
After overcoming injury in 2024 and making adjustments to his game, Norrie said he has found a good balance, feeling physically strong while having more experience at the top level.
Another left-handed Brit in Jack Draper recorded the biggest scalp of the day, taking down third seed Novak Djokovic 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
Draper, the 14th seed, needed two hours 37 minutes to set up a quarter-final clash with 11th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, who earlier in the day advanced after beating American Alex Michelsen 6-2 ​6-4.
Australia's hopes of victory at the tournament, considered by many to be the "fifth grand slam", now rest with Talia Gibson in the women's quarter-finals.
The 21-year-old West Australian, who beat world No.7 Jasmine Paolini in the fourth round, takes on 14th-seeded Czech Linda Noskova on Friday (AEDT).
- with PA
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