ATP 2025 Australian Open
Day 3 – Tuesday 14 January, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.


- The match up: Rinky Hijikata vs Mitchell Krueger
- Event Name: 2025 Australian Open
- Match Date: Tuesday 14 January
- Day Of Event: Day 3
- Event Address: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Let’s have a look at all the career, performance and head-to-head stats for the match and find out if Rinky Hijikata or Mitchell Krueger is expected to win.
Match Details:
Rinky Hijikata vs Mitchell Krueger – Tuesday 14 January – 2025 Australian Open – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Rinky Hijikata vs Mitchell Krueger Head-to-Head, Preview, Stats & Pick:
Head To Head first meeting.
In a thrilling showdown on the courts of the Australian Open, Rinky Hijikata of Australia faced off against Mitchell Krueger of the United States. This encounter marked the first time these two players would meet at the tour level, although they had previously crossed paths in the qualifying rounds of the 2023 Phoenix Challenger in the USA.
Hijikata entered the match with a confident demeanor, having emerged victorious in his only previous encounter against a qualifier at a Grand Slam event. In the first round of the Australian Open in 2023, he defeated Yannick Hanfmann, showcasing his ability to conquer challengers at this level. Overall, Hijikata boasted a respectable 4-3 win-loss record against qualifiers in tour-level matches.
This showdown between an Australian and an American player was one of many in the men’s singles draw at this year’s Australian Open. With a total of 14 representatives from each nation, both Australia and the USA shared the distinction of having the highest number of players in the tournament. The clash between Hijikata and Krueger added to the legacy of 1116 men’s singles matches between Australian and American players in Grand Slams during the Open Era. So far, American players held the upper hand with a record of 613-502.
Specifically at the Australian Open, this matchup marked the 367th meeting between an Australian and an American player. Of the 366 matches played prior to this encounter, American players held a slim lead of 214-152. It’s worth noting that at the US Open, the rivalry between Australian and American players was even more closely contested, with Australian players holding a slight advantage of 153-149 in the 302 matches played during the Open Era.
Hijikata’s previous experiences against American players at Grand Slams, however, had been less successful. He had suffered a defeat at the hands of Frances Tiafoe in the round of 16 at the 2023 US Open. Overall, Hijikata held a 5-11 win-loss record against American players at the tour level. On the other side of the net, Krueger was eager to face an Australian player at a Grand Slam for the first time. His previous record against Australian players at the tour level stood at 1-2.
In terms of their current rankings and records, Hijikata entered the match at a comfortable 72nd position in the ATP rankings. Krueger, on the other hand, was ranked 146th. When it came to their performance in Grand Slam events, Hijikata held a 5-7 career record, while Krueger’s stood at 2-4. Both players were looking to improve their Australian Open records, with Hijikata holding a 1-2 record and Krueger yet to secure a victory here.
Beyond their Grand Slam performances, Hijikata had accumulated a career record of 29-38, with 21 wins and 26 losses on hard courts. In 2025, Hijikata entered the match with an even 2-2 record, although he had yet to secure a win on hard courts. Krueger, on the other hand, had a struggling career record of 10-22, with an 8-17 record on hard courts. This was his first tour-level match of the year.
In terms of their resilience on the court, both players exhibited the ability to mount comebacks from 0-2 deficits. Hijikata had accomplished this feat once, while Krueger had yet to do so. Additionally, Hijikata boasted a solid 15-10 record in tiebreaks throughout his career, with a 1-0 record in tiebreaks in 2025. Krueger, on the other hand, had struggled in tiebreaks, with a record of 4-7 overall and no tiebreak wins in 2025.
Looking at their past performances in various tournaments, Hijikata’s best moments came in 2023 when he reached the round of 16 at the US Open. He defeated Pavel Kotov, Marton Fucsovics, and Zhizhen Zhang before falling to Frances Tiafoe. In 2024, he reached the quarterfinals in five different tournaments, including a wild-card entry at Brisbane and a qualifier appearance at Queen’s. However, his most remarkable achievement came in the doubles event of the 2023 Australian Open when he, alongside Jason Kubler, clinched the title.
Krueger’s journey to the Australian Open involved a successful qualification campaign, where he defeated three opponents to secure his spot in the main draw. This marked the second time he had qualified for the Australian Open, adding to his impressive record of qualifying for Grand Slam events. Though he had yet to secure a victory in the main draw, Krueger had performed admirably in previous Grand Slam tournaments, reaching the second round twice at the US Open.
As the two players prepared to face each other on the Australian Open stage, it was clear that both had their own strengths and weaknesses. Hijikata’s experience at the Grand Slam level, coupled with his previous victories against qualifiers, gave him confidence. However, Krueger’s determination to make his mark in a Grand Slam main draw debut, along with his successful qualification campaign, made him a force to be reckoned with.
With their rankings, records, and past performances analyzed, the stage was set for an exhilarating contest between Rinky Hijikata and Mitchell Krueger. As they stepped onto the court, both players knew that only one would emerge victorious. The battle for a spot in the second round of the Australian Open had begun, showcasing the undying spirit of tennis and the pursuit of glory on the grandest stage of all.
Rinky Hijikata vs Mitchell Krueger Prediction:
I believe Rinky Hijikata will win in straight sets.
The Stevegtennis.com prediction algorithm has a much better success rate in picking
match winners than me!
So check out who it picks for this match here:
Stevegtennis.com Rinky Hijikata vs Mitchell Krueger prediction.