Rinky Hijikata vs Matteo Arnaldi Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Delray Beach Open

Prediction published on 14/02/2024, 00:00  by Daniel Ngulu in Tennis Predictions

Sixth seed Matteo Arnaldi and unseeded Rinky Hijikata will meet in the second round of the Delray Beach Open. A quarterfinal berth awaits the winner here, to take on either Taylor Fritz or Nuno Borges. Rinky Hijikata battled through three sets to defeat Liam Broady in the first round. The win saw him tie his record for the season at 5-5. He has had an inconsistent start to the year and four of his wins as well as defeats have come on hard courts. Alternating between the tour and challenger circuits, the Australian has only once won back-to-back matches. Advancing to this round has moved him up four places to 80th in the live ranking.

Matteo Arnaldi has also won five matches this season but he has been more assured than Hijikata. The Italian has played eight matches and all his victories have come on hard courts. A quarterfinal finish in Brisbane remains to be his best result so far. He will be eager to at the very least equal this feat here. Arnaldi, who is making his Delray Beach debut, also had to battle through three sets to win his first-round tie. He came from a set down to defeat Yoshihito Nishioka and has now moved up three places to 40th in the live ranking.