'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Match Details
Fixture: (1) Novak Djokovic vs (WC) Rinky Hijikata
Tournament: Brisbane International 2025
Round: First Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane, Australia
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize Money: $766,290
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+
Novak Djokovic vs Rinky Hijikata preview
24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic will take on Rinky Hijikata in the first round of the Brisbane International 2025.
Trending
Djokovic came up empty-handed in his quest for a 25th Major title in 2024. His title defense at the Australian Open came to an end against Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. An injury prevented him from mounting a successful title defense at the French Open, having to pull out before the quarterfinals.
A shock third-round defeat to Alexei Popyrin marked the end of Djokovic's title defense at the US Open. He did reach the Wimbledon final and lost to Carlos Alcaraz in a rematch of last year's final. However, he got his revenge on the Spaniard by beating him in the final of the Paris Olympics to win the gold medal.
Djokovic also reached the final of the Shanghai Masters and was beaten by Sinner once again. He wrapped up his season after that and later hired Andy Murray as his new coach.
Hijikata advanced to the quarterfinals on five occasions in 2024, once at the ATP 500 level and four times at the ATP 250 level, his best results during the year. Following a first-round exit from the Shanghai Masters, he dropped down to the Challenger circuit.
The decision paid off as Hijikata won the title in Playford, and was the runner-up in Sydney, where he lost to Thanasi Kokkinakis in the final. It helped him finish the season ranked within the top 80 for the second consecutive year.
Novak Djokovic vs Rinky Hijikata head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between the two, so the head-to-head stands at 0-0 for now.
Novak Djokovic vs Rinky Hijikata odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Novak Djokovic vs Rinky Hijikata prediction
Djokovic is bidding to win his milestone 100th career title in Brisbane. Aside from his gold medal at the Olympics, 2024 was a pretty light year for him when it came to expanding his trophy cabinet. It also marked the first time since 2017 that he didn't win a Major.
However, he's showing no signs of slowing down and is ready to smash some records yet again. His loss to No. 123 Luca Nardi at the Indian Wells Masters was his most shocking loss this year. Aside from that, he mostly came up short against other top players.
Hijikata has a 28-35 career record at the ATP level and has gone 0-9 against top 10 players in his career, winning only one set across those nine losses. Djokovic, meanwhile, tallied a 37-9 record in 2024 and has lost to a player ranked outside the top 50 only thrice since the start of 2020. As such, the Serb should be off to a winning start in Brisbane.
Pick: Novak Djokovic to win in straight sets.
How did Novak Djokovic meet Jelena Ristic? All about the most admired couples in tennis
