A shorter linkage is certainly one way to go, but before you go too far with this, a couple of other thoughts.
First of all, we're dealing with a basically poor design here, in which the handle operates a mechanism on a loose pivot. There's a lot of play built in, but also a lot that develops with wear. If you look at the picture (if I remember to post it) you'll see the loose pivot on mine. A suitably sized, thin snap ring has helped to take up some of that play, but you must make sure that it doesn't bind. Notice also the shiny worn spot on the edge of the pivot, where the plastic tab of the handle, now also worn, pushes. If wear continues too far, it might be possible to build that up.
But first of all, make sure that the latching mechanism (the part that stays in the hatch when handle is removed) is well lubricated. When it gets stiff, nothing will help, because the combination of play in the latch, play in the mounting of the latch to the hatch (it's only bolted in on one end), and flex in the sheet metal itself, will add up to no opening.
In other words, you can use a shorter linkage like Yossarian's idea to compensate for wear, but it still won't work well unless the latch itself is working freely.
You will also always have trouble if you adjust the latch too tight to try to compensate for rattling, or if cargo in the rear shifts and presses out on the hatch. If that happens, you must remember to push inward on the hatch while you pull the handle.
And naturally, I forgot the picture, so here it is.....
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