Rinky Hijikata vs Novak Djokovic Prediction & Picks - ATP Miami

Prediction published on 3/21/25, 7:15 AM  by Tyler Doty | Modified on 3/21/25 at 7:18 AM in ATP Miami Picks

After a disappointing start at the BNP Paribas Open, Serbian Novak Djokovic begins his Miami Open campaign today against Australian Rinky Hijikata.

Since his victory in the Australian Open quarterfinals against Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic has not won a match on the tour. Struggling with physical issues, the Serbian was sidelined for a few weeks, and his return hasn’t gone as planned. He was knocked out in the first round in Doha in February and did not perform better in Indian Wells. A first-round exit against Botic Van De Zandschulp highlighted the physical gaps in the record-holder for Grand Slam wins. Tonight, the world number 5 enters the court in Florida with his first match against Rinky Hijikata.

The Australian started his tournament with a win over another Serbian, Hamad Medjenovic, after 2.5 hours of tough battling. The 86th-ranked ATP player has had a challenging start to the season, and since his quarterfinal finish in Adelaide, there’s not much to show for the Oceanian’s efforts. He had first-round exits at Delray Beach and Acapulco, and second-round losses at Dallas and Indian Wells. The end of winter wasn’t fruitful for Rinky Hijikata, who is now facing the challenge of taking on Novak Djokovic for a spot in the third round in Miami.