Rinky Hijikata vs Jan-Lennard Struff Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Australian Open

Prediction published on 14/01/2024, 05:46  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 14/01/2024 at 06:46 in ATP Australian Open Predictions

The 24th seed Jan Lennard Struff has to overcome unseeded Rinky Hijikata in the Australian Open first round. The winner will face unseeded opponents in round two (the last 64), either Miomir Kecmanovic or Yosuke Watanaki. Struff began this tournament ranked 24th but is a place lower than that in the live rankings. The German will be hoping to improve on a rather disappointing record in this outdoor hard court Grand Slam. He's only once reached the second round (back in 2018) and has lost in round one on eight occasions, including the last five years. In other Grand Slams his best is getting to the fourth round at Roland Garros. Struff missed the last two Grand Slams of 2023. This year has seen him play one tournament in Hong Kong and he lost in the second round. That went to three sets and all were decided by a tie-break. He reached two finals last year, most notably the Madrid Masters on clay. 

There's been one previous match between these two players and that was last year. Struff won that on a hard court, so Hijikata will be out for revenge in front of his home fans. He's 71st in the live rankings and that's just one place below his career high. The Australian reached the quarter final of this month's Brisbane International, losing to eventual winner Grigor Dimitrov. That was followed by a first round loss to Dan Evans in Adelaide. After four failed attempts to qualify for his home Grand Slam, Hijikata finally played in the main draw last year and made it to round two. His best performance by far in a Grand Slam is his fourth round at last year's US Open. We go for over 3.5 sets to be played in this match.