🎾 ATP Rome: Rinky Hijikata vs Corentin Moutet

🎾 ATP Rome: Rinky Hijikata vs Corentin Moutet – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🇫🇷 Corentin Moutet

• Inconsistent campaign: Holds a 10–11 record in 2025, with his better moments coming at Masters-level events like Indian Wells and Miami, where he made the second round.
• Madrid scare: Retired mid-match against Harold Mayot last week but quickly returned with two testing matches at the Aix-en-Provence Challenger—no lasting injury concerns.
• Rome comfort: Won his only Masters match of 2023 here, beating Safiullin as a lucky loser before pushing Rune.
• Clay strengths: Possesses a crafty lefty game built around spin, touch, and tactical movement—ideal for slow conditions.

🇦🇺 Rinky Hijikata

• Form troubles: Slumped to a 9–15 record in 2025 and has just one clay win all year (1–4).
• Recent setbacks: Lost to Fognini in Madrid qualifying and fell in the first round to Opelka—both disappointing results.
• Falling ranking: Dropped to No. 82 after peaking near the top 50 last year due to a lack of consistency.
• Struggles on clay: His flatter game and hard-court instincts are often neutralized on slower surfaces. Movement and point construction need work.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This contest is a clear surface mismatch. Moutet thrives on red clay, where he can use spin, angles, and his deft hands to construct points and outmaneuver opponents. His game is uniquely suited to dragging rallies into awkward territory, especially against players like Hijikata who prefer quick finishes and struggle in extended exchanges.

Hijikata, meanwhile, has shown no recent signs of adapting to clay. His losses to Fognini and Opelka reflect poor form and low confidence. Unless Moutet is physically compromised—which seems unlikely after his Challenger return—he should dominate the rhythm and tempo of this match.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Moutet in straight sets. Expect long, tactical points where the Frenchman's variety and clay experience frustrate Hijikata into errors.