Hijikata vs Safiullin Prediction 7 October 2026
🔊 Roman Safiullin returns to Shanghai after missing last year's edition, looking to match his 2024 run when he reached the second week. In the first round he faces Rinky Hijikata, who has never gone beyond the second round in Shanghai. Notably, the two players are separated by just six places in the rankings, yet the odds gap in Safiullin's favour is considerable. In our prediction, we look at whether an upset is on the cards in this match.
Head-to-Head
📊 Rinky Hijikata and Roman Safiullin have not previously met.
Rinky Hijikata Player Overview
Rinky Hijikata is in inconsistent form, alternating wins and losses across his last five matches. During the current Asian swing he has a negative record of 1-2, with his most recent tournament being the Tokyo 500, where he failed to come through qualifying. His main strengths are speed and fitness. Hijikata is willing to chase down balls from the baseline for extended periods, occasionally coming to the net. He does not have a powerful serve, and in rallies he tends to draw opponents into long exchanges, waiting for the right moment to counter.
Match Results: Rinky Hijikata
Roman Safiullin Player Overview
Roman Safiullin arrives at this match with six wins from his last ten. He reached the Shanghai main draw through qualifying, beating Alexis Galarneau and Shintaro Mochizuki. Before that, he made the semi-finals of the ATP 250 in Hangzhou, though in between he suffered an early second-round exit at the ATP 500 in Beijing. Safiullin is a stylistic opposite to Hijikata. He builds pressure from a powerful serve and looks to finish his own service games in a few shots. On return, Roman takes the ball early and attacks aggressively from the outset, looking to hit winners.
Match Results: Roman Safiullin
Key factors
- Roman Safiullin has won fewer than 12.5 games in each of his last six matches.
- The average number of games in matches involving Safiullin is 22.3.
- Safiullin has a high set-winning percentage (58%).
- Rinky Hijikata has a negative record on the current Asian swing (1-2).
Expected scenario
Roman Safiullin is expected to seize the initiative from the start, relying on a powerful first serve and flat, aggressive forehands to keep rallies short and drive the ball into the corners. Rinky Hijikata, by contrast, is likely to cede the centre of the court deliberately, drop into a defensive mode and use his exceptional movement to return difficult balls deep, drawing his opponent into long, gruelling baseline rallies.
Total Games Prediction
Safiullin has consistently stayed under 12.5 games won across his last six matches, losing only two of them. His Shanghai qualifying run is a good example - he conceded just eight games across two matches without needing to produce anything exceptional.
⭐ Editor's Pick
Roman Safiullin has been in good form this season, and an early exit from the 500-level event in Beijing does little to change that overall picture. He is a clear favourite in the odds against Rinky Hijikata, who has modest form on the Asian swing and a negative record to go with it. The outcome largely depends on Safiullin's own discipline: if he maintains a high first-serve percentage and avoids runs of unforced errors on the Australian's returns, his firepower should be enough to break down Hijikata's defence. There is little to suggest the opposite scenario. The pick is Safiullin - Games Handicap -2.5.
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Betting Tips: Rinky Hijikata - Roman Safiullin
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