TENNIS
Van Assche arrives with better recent results and a clearer upward trend, while Hijikata has been more variable across his last stretch of matches. Van Assche’s recent run includes winning form and wins over stronger names, which supports a higher baseline level than the market may be assigning. Hijikata can trouble opponents with pace and early control of points, but his recent form has been less convincing when rallies extend and when he has to defend second-serve patterns. The combination of current form, surface fit, and the home-court angle gives Van Assche the cleaner path to a straight-set win.
The head-to-head series is tied 0-0.
Luca Van Assche is the projected winner, and the most appealing position is his moneyline. The market is pricing him as a moderate favorite, but his recent form, stronger surface fit, and home conditions create a better case than the current price reflects. The most likely result is a straight-sets win for Van Assche, with a projected total of 22 games, which fits a match where he controls more of the baseline exchanges and avoids a prolonged, serve-dominated battle.
