Atmane vs Hijikata Prediction 20 October 2026
🔊 Rinky Hijikata arrives in Almaty needing to defend a round-of-16 appearance from last year. Standing in his way is Terence Atmane, making his debut at this tournament. Both players are on losing streaks. Their rankings are close - the Australian is only 14 places above the Frenchman - which makes it difficult to identify a clear favourite, as the odds also reflect. In our prediction, we look at whether this match is likely to be tight or whether Hijikata's experience from last year's edition can be enough to take it.
Head-to-Head
📊 Terence Atmane and Rinky Hijikata have no previous meetings on record.
Terence Atmane Player Overview
Terence Atmane arrives at this tournament in inconsistent form - just four wins from his last ten matches and a current two-match losing streak. Despite the general dip, he has held serve at a high rate (85%) and converted break points well (54%). In more than half of his losses over that span he took at least one set, and his matches have averaged around 19-20 games. A left-hander standing 193 cm, Atmane relies on a powerful baseline game and looks to take control of rallies from the first shot.
Match Results: Terence Atmane
Rinky Hijikata Player Overview
Over their last ten matches, Rinky Hijikata has the same number of wins as his upcoming opponent. Working against him, though, is the fact that in only 1 of his 6 losses has he managed to take a set - and that was back at the US Open. His current two-match losing streak has come without him pushing for sets at all. Rinky Hijikata is considerably shorter than Terence Atmane: at 178 cm, he relies on mobility during rallies. He does not have a particularly powerful shot, so he tends to favour extended baseline exchanges, waiting for his opponents to make unforced errors.
Match Results: Rinky Hijikata
Key factors
- Terence Atmane is considerably more effective on serve and favours a power-based game.
- Rinky Hijikata is short by men's tour standards and stands 15 cm shorter than his upcoming opponent.
- The Australian more often plays from behind, preferring extended baseline rallies over short exchanges.
Expected scenario
Terence Atmane will look to seize control early with the power of his left-handed serve and forehand. Rinky Hijikata, though, should gradually adapt to his rhythm through strong footwork, solid returning and net skills carried over from his doubles game. That said, the main battle during rallies will play out from the baseline. The key for the Australian is not to fall behind quickly on the scoreboard - otherwise he risks the kind of swift defeat seen in most of his losses over a ten-match stretch, where he barely competed for sets.
⭐ Editor's Pick
This match looks like a clash of two contrasting tennis philosophies, with Terence Atmane expected to hold the upper hand. His style suits the fast Almaty surface well, which makes the odds on the Frenchman all the more surprising. Those odds may be worth exploiting, particularly given that in 7 of his last 8 matches Atmane has consistently covered a games handicap of at least three games. That is where we are placing our focus. The pick is Atmane - Games Handicap +2.5.
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Betting Tips: Terence Atmane - Rinky Hijikata
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