Rinky Hijikata vs Grigor Dimitrov Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP US Open

Prediction published on 27/08/2024, 09:21  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 27/08/2024 at 10:12 in ATP US Open Predictions

A place in the last 32 of the US Open is the prize for the winner of this match. Ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov faces unseeded Rinky Hijikata in round two of this hard court Grand Slam. Here's our match prediction.

Dimitrov has reached the second round in New York for the tenth time in 11 tournaments. The 2019 semi-finalist will hope to reach the third round for the second successive year. If he plays as he did in round one, he has a great chance here.

The Bulgarian beat qualifier Kyrian Jacquet in straight sets for the loss of only nine games. A win here will mean he's reached the third round in all four Grand Slam events that have been held this year.

Dimitrov is ninth in the live rankings but four places lower than that in the ATP Race. This year has seen him win the hard court tournament held in Brisbane with two other finals on this surface being reached. 

Rinky Hijikata made it to the fourth round in last year's US Open but didn't beat any seeded players. The Australian is 74th in the live rankings but was 62nd in the latest list but is dropping all the points earned from last year's tournament.

Round one saw him beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Monday. He won in four sets,dropping the second. Recent form has been inconsistent but he did get to the last eight in Winston Salem last week.

Before that he faced Dimitrov in the Rogers Cup and only won one game in two sets. He will want to do much better than that here but we tip Dimitrov to win in straight sets to set up a match against either Sebastian Baez or Tallon Griekspoor.