Rinky Hijikata vs David Goffin Prediction & Picks - ATP Winston-Salem Open

Prediction published on 8/22/24, 8:28 AM  by Tyler Doty | Modified on 8/22/24 at 8:30 AM in Tennis Picks

In this quarter-final of the ATP 250 tournament in Winston-Salem, 23-year-old Australian Rinky Hijikata takes on 33-year-old Belgian David Goffin for a place in the semi-finals. Although Rinky Hijikata has suffered more defeats than victories this season, he has nonetheless managed some fine victories in his first two rounds. In fact, he won his first round by coming from behind to beat France's Arthur Cazaux, and came close to defeat in the tie-break of the 3rd set. A similar story unfolded in the Round of 8 against Borna Coric, against whom he finally won the match in almost 3 hours. These were his only back-to-back wins in the main draw of a hard-court tournament on this North American tour.

David Goffin, meanwhile, lost just one set in his 3 rounds here. He lost his only set to Jaume Munar in the first round, then followed up with 2 fine victories over number 5 seed Luciano Darderi (6-2, 6-4), and another top seed: France's Arthur Rinderknech (6-3, 6-3). Semi-finalist at the Cary Challenger a few days earlier, he came within a whisker of the final against Roman Safiullin. His good results should make it easy for him to win today's duel against a less in-form opponent.