Rinky Hijikata vs Darwin Blanch Preview & Prediction | 2026 Winston-Salem Open | First Round

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USA teenager Darwin Blanch begins his Winston-Salem Open campaign against Rinky Hijikata of Australia.

Ranking points: ATP 250

Start date/time: 24 August 2026 at 12:40 am

Venue: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, USA

Surface: Outdoor hard

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / USA – Tennis Channel

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Tennis Channel

Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Rinky Hijikata vs Darwin Blanch ticket information

Rinky Hijikata vs Darwin Blanch prediction

Rinky Hijikata currently sits just inside the world’s top hundred, so a deep run at Winston-Salem would be extremely beneficial for the Australian and his ranking. He’s coming off the back of some good performances in Cincinnati, which saw him make the third round after beating both Gael Monfils and the seeded Luciano Darderi. The latter in particular, was a notable scalp with Hijikata winning in straight sets.

Darwin Blanch is an exciting 18-year-old, eager to make a statement and the crowd should be right behind the Boca Raton native. He’ll cause Hijikata problems with his lefty two-handed power and speed across the court. But the Aussie is the more well-rounded player and has been in good form of late. With that in mind, it’s well worth backing Hijikata in straight sets. 

Rinky Hijikata vs Darwin Blanch tip: Rinky Hijikata to win 2-0