Hijikata vs Monfils Prediction 13 August 2026
🔊 Gaël Monfils continues his farewell tour of North America and this time makes a stop in Cincinnati. The legendary Frenchman is well known to local fans, having played at the American Masters event with short breaks since 2005. In the first round of this year's edition he faces Rinky Hijikata, who is making his main draw debut at a Masters. Let's see if the Australian can upset the veteran in the final year of his career.
Head-to-Head
📊 Rinky Hijikata and Gaël Monfils have never faced each other before.
Head-to-head statistics Hijikata - Monfils
Rinky Hijikata Player Overview
Rinky Hijikata comes into the match in neutral form - five wins in his last ten matches. That said, the Australian arrives in Cincinnati on a four-match losing streak. Nevertheless, Rinky rarely gives up without a fight, as evidenced at least by the average match length in his games, which reaches 28 games. The Australian wins around half of all points and sets, while his service points won percentage sits at 79, which is considered a good figure for the second-fifty bracket of the world rankings, where Hijikata currently sits (93rd).
Match Results: Rinky Hijikata
Gael Monfils Player Overview
Gaël Monfils has won four of his last ten matches - his form is inconsistent, but the former world No. 6 regularly makes his opponents work regardless of their ranking. The average total games in matches involving him reaches nearly 25, and his serve-hold rate remains respectable even by top-100 ATP standards (around 75%), a level Gaël has long since fallen below. Monfils often reaches tie-breaks or plays tight sets by the scoreline. His game is also versatile, as evidenced by strong return numbers - the Frenchman converts 40% of his break points.
Match Results: Gael Monfils
Key factors
- The average number of games in both players' matches exceeds 24.
- Both players win roughly half of their games and sets.
- Neither player has a clear dominance on serve or return.
Expected scenario
The match is expected to be a tough one: both players are capable of holding serve confidently and don't let their opponent close out sets quickly, constantly fighting for points not only on their own serve but on their opponent's as well. The probability of a third set is rated as moderate - there may be extended stretches and an even distribution of games between the two players, which could lead to a tight scoreline throughout.
⭐ Editor's prediction
The current form of both first-round Cincinnati participants does not allow for a clear favorite: their stats in games and sets won are close to parity, and the average match duration for both players comfortably exceeds the ATP Tour median. Yes, the Australian is slightly better on serve, but the Frenchman more often fights for points on return. It seems that everything points to a competitive match even at this early stage of the tournament. Our pick: total games over 21.5.
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Betting Tips: Rinky Hijikata - Gael Monfils
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