The grass courts at Wimbledon always bring their own kind of drama and this first round clash on Monday promises plenty of it. With the match set for one o clock Moscow time the two players will step out knowing the surface rewards big serves and quick thinking. Hijikata comes in as the slight favourite but nobody expects a straight sets walkover here. De Jong has shown he can hang tough in long rallies and the Aussie will have to earn every point on the slick lawns.
Team Form
Both men arrive with decent recent records on grass though Hijikata edges it with more matches under his belt this season. He likes to dictate with his forehand and has been winning plenty of service games without much fuss. De Jong on the other hand stays compact and fights for every break chance which makes him a real nuisance when sets stretch out.
- Hijikata wins most service points on first serve
- De Jong rarely drops sets before the fourth game
- Both players prefer longer rallies on grass
Tactical Analysis
The key will be how well each man holds serve because the surface can make returns tricky especially in the early sets. Expect plenty of tie breaks and long games as neither player gives up easily on their own delivery. Hijikata might try to rush the net more often but de Jong will stay back and counter punch whenever he gets the chance.
Betting Proposal
Given how evenly matched they look on paper this contest should go the distance with both players pushing each other deep into the match. The types point to a battle that will not finish in three sets so the smart move remains backing the total sets to go over three and a half.
Bet on total sets over 3.5 at odds of 1.85.
