Rinky Hijikata vs Luciano Darderi Preview & Prediction | 2026 Indian Wells Open (BNP Paribas Open) | Second Round

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Rinky Hijikata meets Luciano Darderi in the second round of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden

Ranking points: ATP 1000

Start date/time:

Venue: Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Indian Wells, 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 Luciano Darderi ticket information

Rinky Hijikata vs Luciano Darderi prediction

Luciano Darderi returns from a successful South American clay swing and will hope to improve his hardcourt success rate at Indian Wells.

The conditions may well help the transition for the Italian who followed up a runner-up berth in Buenos Aires with a title triumph in Santiago.

Rinky Hijikata will try to make it third time lucky against the 20th seed, having lost their previous two meetings in straight sets.

The bad news for the Aussie is that it is 6-0 in sets across hard court and clay with those previous losses coming at the 2024 French Open and the 2025 US Open.

World number 117 Hijikata edged Maestrelli in the first round after battling through qualifying, but he’s unlikely to take out another Italian here with Darderi likely to be super confident in his own form and the match-up overall. 

Rinky Hijikata vs Luciano Darderi tip: Luciano Darderi to win 2-0