Jaume Munar vs Rinky Hijikata Betting Tips 2026

Canadian Open 2026: Munar vs Hijikata First-Round Preview

The Canadian Open gets underway in Montreal on Sunday, bringing one of the hardcourt swing’s most prestigious 1000-series events to life. Jannik Sinner arrives as defending champion after winning the title last year, and the field will be looking to dethrone him across a week of high-stakes hardcourt tennis. The Cincinnati Masters follows next week, meaning players are managing load carefully across both events. For the first-round opener between Jaume Munar and Rinky Hijikata, the spotlight is firmly on a compelling contrast in styles and status.

Jaume Munar: Ranked, Reliable, Hardcourt Capable

Munar sits at ATP #41 with 1145 ranking points, which puts him firmly inside the top 50 and makes him the clear betting favourite at 73/100. The Spaniard is often pigeonholed as a clay specialist given his background, but that reading undersells him. Munar has developed into a complete baseliner with a high-percentage game built on consistency, deep positioning, and the ability to construct points methodically. On hardcourts, that style translates well against opponents who lack the firepower to shorten points aggressively.

At his ranking level, Munar has earned his place through sustained performance across surfaces. He is not a flashy big-server who lives and dies by his first-serve percentage, but rather a grinder who keeps the ball in play, forces errors, and climbs into matches physically. Against an opponent making their way up the rankings, that kind of mental stability often proves decisive.

Rinky Hijikata: Dangerous Challenger, Unranked in the Data

Hijikata does not have a current ranking figure in the available data, but his odds of 117/100 reflect bookmaker respect for his potential as a disruptor. The Australian is an aggressive hardcourt player who moves well and competes with energy. His game is built for the faster conditions of a hard surface, and he has shown at various points that he can trouble higher-ranked opponents when his serve and forehand are clicking.

The challenge for Hijikata in a match like this is consistency over a best-of-three format against a seasoned top-50 player. Munar rarely gives away cheap points and forces opponents to earn everything the hard way. For Hijikata to pull off the upset, he would need to set a high tempo early and not allow Munar to settle into his preferred rhythm of extended baseline exchanges.

Head-to-Head

This is a first meeting between the two players. There is no historical record to draw from, which strips away one of the usual analytical layers. Neither player has a psychological edge built from previous encounters, so the match will be decided purely on form, conditions, and who executes their gameplan better on the day.

Betting Angles

The odds tell a clear story here. Munar at 73/100 is a fairly short price for a first-round hardcourt match, but it reflects the ranking gap and the general expectation that a top-50 player should handle this situation. At those odds, the implied probability sits north of 57 percent, which feels about right given what we know.

Hijikata at 117/100 offers genuine value if you believe in the upset. That price implies roughly a 46 percent chance, and on a fast hardcourt where an aggressive serve-and-forehand game can neutralise Munar’s consistency, it is not an unreasonable position to take a small stake on. The question is whether Hijikata can sustain that level for a full match rather than just a set.

• Munar at 73/100: Short but reasonable for a top-50 player in this spot
• Hijikata at 117/100: Upset value exists if his hardcourt aggression fires early
• First meeting adds uncertainty, which slightly nudges value toward the underdog price
• Munar’s consistency makes him a safer option for those prioritising probability over price

Our Pick

Munar is the right side here. His ranking, his experience in best-of-three hardcourt matches at this level, and his ability to grind through uncomfortable moments all point toward a controlled victory. Hijikata has the tools to make it competitive, but consistent top-50 players tend to close out these first-round matches once they find their footing. Take Munar to get the job done.