Andrey Rublev vs Rinky Hijikata ATP Hangzhou Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Hijikata with poor record vs top 25

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Fri 25 Sep 2026 00:44

Andrew Hendrie 2 hours ago

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Andrey Rublev vs Rinky Hijikata predictions for Friday's ATP Hangzhou R2
Hijikata having a good year, but is 4-25 lifetime vs top 25 players
Rublev tipped to launch Hangzhou Open campaign with a straight sets win
The match is scheduled to start around 7.00pm AEST on Friday September 25

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Andrey Rublev vs Rinky Hijikata ATP Hangzhou Tips, Prediction & Live Stream

Rinky Hijikata has lost 25 of his 29 previous encounters with top 25 players, so Andrey Rublev is tipped to advance into the Hangzhou Open quarter-finals on Friday night.

Andrey Rublev vs Rinky Hijikata ATP Hangzhou Tips, Prediction & Live Stream
Rublev vs Hijkata Stats & Trends
Rublev vs Hijikata Head To Head
Andrey Rublev Form Analysis
Rinky Hijikata Form Analysis
Rublev vs Hijikata Live Stream

Hijikata has improved this season, no doubt about it. He's recorded some good wins over the likes of Luciano Darderi (x2), Alexander Bublik and Jiri Lehecka.

But the fact remains the Aussie does struggle more often than not when he comes up against elite opponents.

Rublev is certainly nowhere near his best, but I think he's going to take this match and tournament very seriously.

He's fallen outside of the top 20 (currently No. 25) and in a relatively weak field, 250 ranking points will do wonders for his confidence heading into the back-end of the year.

Expect Rublev to look for his destructive forehand and try to dictate with first-strike tennis. Hijikata's retrieval abilities and natural grind can push this Over 19.5 total games, but I'm backing Rublev to come out on top with one close set, something like 7-5 6-3.

Rublev vs Hijkata Stats & Trends

Rublev is 12-6 in his opening matches for 2026
Six of Rublev's last eight opening match wins this season have come in straight sets
Rublev has a 8-3 record vs players ranked 80+ this season
Hijikata has a 4-5 record in his second tournament matches this season
Hijikata has a 4-25 record vs top 25 players in his career, with 18 coming in straight sets

Rublev vs Hijikata Head To Head

This will be the first meeting between the pair.

Andrey Rublev Form Analysis

2026 ATP Record: 28-17
ATP Hangzhou Record: 0-1
Current Ranking: No. 25
Career-High Ranking: No. 5 (2021)

It's been a gradual fall from grace for Rublev over the last few years and since he hit that career-high ranking of No. 5 in 2021.

There's been some decent results - a title in Bastad, runner-up finish in Barcelona and semi-finals in Doha, Dubai and Hong Kong.

But his results at the slams have been disappointing, failing to go beyond the R16 and losing in the first round of Wimbledon and second round of the US Open.

Rublev hasn't played since that Round 2 exit in New York to Daniel Merida in four sets. The Russian is making his second appearance in Hangzhou following a shock opening exit to Valentin Royer last year.

Rinky Hijikata Form Analysis

2026 ATP Record: 15-18
ATP Hangzhou Record: 3-2
Current Ranking: No. 82
Career-High Ranking: No. 62 (2024)

It's looking like a career-best season for Hijikata.

The most wins the Aussie has managed at tour-level came in 2024 when he registered a 16-22 record, so he's one win off equalling that.

Hijikata's best result for the year by round was a quarter-final run at Queens on grass, while he also reached the R16 at Indian Wells, defeating Bublik along the way.

The 25-year-old was dealt a tough opening round draw at the US Open, falling to Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets.

Hijikata briefly returned home to Australia to partner Max Purcell in Davis Cup doubles as the hosts beat Poland. He quickly made his way to Hangzhou, where he took out qualifier Dalibor Svrcina 7-6 6-4 in his opening round.

It's Hijikata's third straight appearance in Hangzhou after he made the quarter-finals in 2024.