On July 3, 2025, 10th-seeded American Ben Shelton will take on Australia’s Rinky Hijikata in the second round of Wimbledon, held in London, United Kingdom. This Grand Slam encounter promises an intense battle on the grass courts, as both players aim to advance in one of tennis’s most prestigious tournaments.
Season Overview and Recent Form of Both Players
Shelton enters this match after a solid year on the ATP Tour, holding a 20-14 win-loss record and breaking into the top 10 in June for the first time. Despite underwhelming results during the lead-up to Wimbledon, where he went 2-3 across the grasscourt events in Stuttgart, Queen’s Club, and Mallorca, Shelton started his Wimbledon campaign strongly by defeating fellow Australian Alex Bolt in straight sets on July 1.
On the other hand, Hijikata, ranked 87th globally, has struggled on grass this season, failing to win matches in earlier grass tournaments. However, he showed resilience at Wimbledon by claiming his first main-draw victory, overpowering former quarterfinalist David Goffin with a dominant performance that allowed just five games. This win gives the Australian confidence heading into the clash against Shelton.
Previous Encounter Between Shelton and Hijikata
The two players have met once before at the 2024 Mallorca Championships, where Shelton secured a straightforward straight-sets victory over Hijikata. This is their only ATP Tour-level meeting to date, giving Shelton a slight advantage in their head-to-head record.
Grasscourt Strengths and Playing Styles Considerations
Although Hijikata is better known as a doubles player, his style adapts well to singles on grass courts. His quick movement and consistent play help compensate for his relatively limited groundstroke power. Additionally, his ability to handle low balls and maintain clean shot execution on grass provides an edge on this fast and low-bouncing surface.
Shelton, standing taller, is still mastering his approach on grass surfaces. Having reached the second week of Wimbledon last year, he must elevate his game to overcome the tricky opponent that Hijikata represents in the second round on Thursday.
Match Outlook and Prediction
Given the attributes of both players and the characteristics of the grass courts at Wimbledon, this contest is expected to be tightly contested. While Shelton holds a higher ranking and previous head-to-head success, Hijikata’s recent form and style make the outcome uncertain. A cautious prediction favors Hijikata to edge out Shelton in a competitive five-set match, producing another enthralling chapter in this budding rivalry.
“Hijikata is mainly a doubles specialist, his game translates well into singles tennis on grasscourts. The 5’10 Aussie more than makes up for the lack of firepower on his groundstrokes with his footspeed and consistency.” — Analyst
“Shelton, meanwhile, is still figuring out the ins and outs of playing on grass. The 10th seed reached the second week of the tournament last year but will have to produce something special to get past a formidable opponent like Hijikata during their second-round clash on Thursday.” — Analyst