The 22-year-old said coming from Australia made it hard to comprehend how shootings seem so commonplace in the US.

“It is a very different dynamic,” Hijikata said.

“I feel like as an Australian it can be a little bit of head scratcher at times, the way things run in the US.

“There are times when you kind of don’t feel safe, and it’s very unfortunate what’s happened today.

“I feel like it is really not an unexpected event, which makes it worse almost.”

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As well as a guaranteed $US123,000 ($A192,000) pay day, Hijikata’s victory earned the Sydneysider a shot at unseeded Hungarian Marton Fucsovics for a place in the third round of a grand slam for the first time.

After watching a video of students jumping out of a window, Hijikata promised to play for his old schoolmates.

“I think come tomorrow hopefully I will be alright,” he said.

“I’ll definitely be focused on my match. If anything, I want to try and play 10, 20 per cent harder on Wednesday for everyone at school at the moment.

“I’ll definitely try harder for everyone back home and all the Tar Heels (university basketball players).”

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