World number 116 Rinky Hijikata faces the 240th-ranked Abedallah Shelbayh in the first round of the 2023 Newport Open on Monday, July 17. Get the predictions and odds of this Rinky Hijikata v Abedallah Shelbayh match along with its preview, head to head, and tips here.
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Rinky Hijikata v Abedallah Shelbayh Head to Head
This will be the first meeting between Hijikata and Shelbayh.
Also Read:
Hijikata Made the Rosmalen Semifinal
Hijikata was ranked 375th in the world at the start of the 2022 but his growth as a player and as a result of that, his ranking ascent, has been terrific. Today he stands close to his career-best of 113th in the world and another couple of solid performances on the ATP Tour could help him break into the top 100 very soon.
And it’s no surprise he’s opted to feature on the grass courts of Newport given how his season has gone so far,
Having played in just three clay court competitions all season, Hijikata had lost all three matches he featured in. On grass, on the other hand, the Aussie made the quarterfinal of the Surbiton Challenger and then raised his levels to enter the last four stage of the Rosmalen Open after starting out as a qualifier.
While he failed to qualify for Wimbledon, he will know he has a great chance of pushing on in this tournament as well given the quality of opposition on offer.
Can he start off on a strong note?
Also Read:
Shelbayh Hasn’t Won a Round Since Banja Luka
Life on the tennis court hasn’t been kind to Shelbayh recently with the Jordanian player currently ranked 235th in the world. At the highest level he hasn’t won a main draw match since making it to the second round of the Banja Luka Open in April having entered the main draw there as a qualifier.
The other way of looking at it is he has risen to his current ranking after having been ranked 1354th in February 2022. That’s a rather sharp rise and an indicator of what he is capable of at the lower circuits.
What needs to be seen is if Shelbayh has make that switch on to the ATP circuit as quickly.
At Banja Luka, he was playing his fourth career match and he managed to win and lose one apiece. From then onward, he has featured in three ATP main tournaments and five Challengers and not won a single main draw encounter.
Can he turn that around here?
Hijikata v Shelbayh Prediction and Tip
Hijikata should not have a lot of difficulties here and make it through in straight sets on grass.
Tips:
- Low Risk Tip: Hijikata to win: 9/20
- Moderate Risk Tip: Hijikata to win in straight sets: 6/5
The 2023 ATP Newport will be played from July 17 to 23. You can get all the tennis betting news with our tennis betting blog here. Also get rest of the tennis match previews here.
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