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·Masters·HardRinky Hijikata defeated Gael Monfils 2-6, 7(7)-6(5), 6-3 — Cincinnati Open 2026 R128.
Rinky Hijikata and Gael Monfils: Rinky Hijikata leads 1–0 across 1 recorded meeting.
Second serves settled it. Rinky Hijikata won 61 percent of his second-serve points to 41 for Gael Monfils, and took 39 of 66 second-return points, enough to cover a 16-3 deficit in aces. The turn came in the third. Hijikata, a returner by trade whose serve has always been the ceiling, broke in game 2 for 2-0 and again in game 6 for 5-1, while Monfils, the betting market's pick at 56 percent, logged 24 unforced errors in each of the last two sets. The 39-year-old Frenchman, a wild card himself at the Cincinnati Open, out-hit the Australian 35 winners to 29 and still finished behind on points, 109 to 114. Three hours, 52 minutes on court, and a four-match losing run dating to June at Queen's is over.