Clement ChidekhvsRinky Hijikata

Clement Chidekh meets Rinky Hijikata in the Round of 32 at the Open Aix Provence Crédit Agricole on April 28, a clay court event that will mark their first career matchup. Chidekh sits at number 179 in the world; Hijikata sits at 101. Both players arrive with mixed clay records, Chidekh at 4-5 and Hijikata at 5-15 over their recent sample.

The two have never faced each other. Both come in on losing streaks: Chidekh dropped his last match, while Hijikata has lost two in a row. Over his last ten matches Hijikata has won six, compared to Chidekh's five wins in the same span. Chidekh played twice in the past two weeks; Hijikata has had more rest, with his last outing eight days prior.

Chidekh operates as a defensive player who disrupts opponents' rhythm and limits unforced errors. Hijikata is a power hitter who attacks early and relies on heavy groundstrokes to control rallies. On clay, where patience and consistency carry weight, Chidekh's steadiness will test Hijikata's aggression. The question becomes whether Hijikata can maintain his aggressive intent long enough to finish points, or whether Chidekh can frustrate him into mistakes from the baseline.