Tomás Martín Etcheverry vs Rinky Hijikata

🎾 Full Betting Angles & Live-Bet Radar
Join the PB Tennis Patreon for daily breakdowns — value picks & bankroll builders.

Etcheverry vs Hijikata — Hangzhou R2 Preview

ATP Hangzhou Hard Court Round of 16

🧠 Form & Context

Tomás Martín Etcheverry (26, #63)

• ✅ Arrives with two straight-set wins in the region: DC d. De Jong 6–4, 6–4 → R1 here d. Džumhur 6–2, 6–4.
• ⚖️ 2025 hard-court: 9–9 (overall 24–28); summer highlights include Toronto R3 (d. Griekspoor) and competitive sets vs top 30.
• 🔧 Profile: Heavy baseline weight, solid backhand cross, improved first-serve spots in recent weeks.

Rinky Hijikata (24, #111)

• 🚀 Through qualies with quality wins (d. Eubanks in 3), then R1 d. Ugo Carabelli 7–6, 6–4.
• 📊 2025 hard-court: 11–12 (overall 20–24); streaky season but tends to surge after qualifying.
• 🧩 Profile: Quick first step, aggressive FH on the rise-ball, strong transition instincts; served well this week.

Head-to-head: First meeting (0–0).

🔍 Match Breakdown

Serve/return patterns: Etcheverry’s improved first-serve percentage and depth to the Hijikata backhand can pin the Aussie back; Hijikata needs to take returns early and unlock FH inside-out to avoid long neutral rallies.

Rally dynamics: Longer exchanges favor Etcheverry’s heavier ball; short-point bias (serve +1, net looks) swings toward Hijikata.

Current form vs season body of work: Hijikata’s qualifying rhythm narrows the gap, but Etcheverry’s recent clean wins and higher rally tolerance give him the late-set edge.

🔮 Prediction

Hijikata has the tools to make this tight—especially if he keeps holding efficiently—but Etcheverry’s baseline weight and steadier second-serve returns should tell over time.

Pick: Etcheverry in 3 sets.

Upset path: Hijikata pushes first-serve in ≥65%, steals court position on 2nd-serve returns, and finishes with FH early—then it becomes a coin flip in tiebreaks.