World number five Novak Djokovic will face the 86th-ranked Rinky Hijikata in the second round of the 2025 ATP Miami Masters which will be played on Friday, March 21. Get all the Novak Djokovic v Rinky Hijikata predictions, betting tips and odds for this encounter in the section below.
Novak Djokovic v Rinky Hijikata Head to Head
Their only previous meeting came earlier this year in Brisbane and Djokovic had won that opening round match in straight sets.
Djokovic on a Three-Match Losing Streak
Novak Djokovic doesn’t lose often, let alone twice in a row. This year, he has already gone down in three successive matches, which is the kind of record that the Serb has rarely endured in his career.
In fact the last time that Djokovic lost three on the bounce was way back in 2018 when he was knocked out in the fourth round by Hyeon Chung before losing to Taro Daniel and Benoit Paire at the Sunshine Masters.
We all know what he did after that, adding 12 more Grand Slam titles to his kitty!
That’s exactly what Djokovic would like to do again, having come into this encounter on the back of a retirement at the Australian Open, a straight-set loss at Doha to Matteo Berrettini and a three-set defeat to Botic Van De Zandschulp in Indian Wells.
Can he now turn things around in Miami?
Hijikata Edges Past Medjedovic
Having begun the season with an opening loss to Djokovic, Rinky Hijikata enters this tournament having plumetted in his rankings. He was 73rd at the start of the year and is now 86th in the world and that has been thanks to the fact that Hijikata has won a mere five matches this season.
The fifth of those victories came against Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic who has himself been in some decent form but Hijikata held on cagily, overcoming him 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.
In turn, Hijikata managed to win his first ever match in Miami with his previous two outings here having resulted in a qualifier ouster and a first round exit.
Can he now use his opponent’s struggles to put up a show against another Serb?
Djokovic v Hijikata Predictions
As mentioned earlier, Djokovic losing three in a row is a once-in-a-seven-year phenomenon. Four in a row? That sounds even more implausible and while there could be a fight on the cards here, we think Djokovic will come through in two hard-fought sets.
Djokovic v Hijikata Tips
- Over 19.5 games in the match: 5/6
