Rinky Hijikata and Ugo Humbert meet in the match at London on Friday. Ugo Humbert comes in at 5 wins from the last ten. Rinky Hijikata has won 5 of the last 10.
The two have never played — a first meeting always adds a layer of uncertainty the numbers can't fully capture.
The serve is where this match separates: Humbert has been winning 73.1% of first-serve points to Hijikata's 68.9%, and on grass that gap compounds fast. Hijikata comes in off a compressed schedule. Humbert should have enough here, though Hijikata has the tools to make the scoreboard uncomfortable.