Rinky Hijikata vs Luciano Darderi Preview & Prediction | 2026 Paris Masters | First Round

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Qualifier Rinky Hijikata has made it through to the main draw, and he faces Luciano Darderi in the first round in Paris.

Ranking points: ATP 1000

Start date/time: 2 November 2026 at 10:00 am

Venue: La Defense Arena, Paris, France

Surface: Indoor hard

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

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

Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Rinky Hijikata vs Luciano Darderi ticket information

Rinky Hijikata vs Luciano Darderi prediction

Fresh off his first call-up to Italy’s Davis Cup squad, Luciano Darderi will be full of confidence coming into this week in Paris.

Darderi’s recent form has been hit and miss, with some good wins over the likes of Casper Ruud and Matteo Arnaldi in recent weeks, but ultimately he has been below par given his form in the first half of 2026, when he reached the semi-finals of the Italian Open.

His form has been patchy since then, and he now comes to Paris looking for his first ever win at this event.

He takes on Rinky Hijikata, who had to come through qualifying to reach the main draw, with wins over Jaime Faria and Vit Kopriva. Hijikata is also looking for his first ever main-draw win in Paris, and his form has been even patchier than Darderi’s in recent times.

Our clear preference here is for Darderi. He will be buoyed by his Davis Cup call-up, and he should have the quality to overcome Hijikata.

Rinky Hijikata vs Luciano Darderi tip: Luciano Darderi to win