Rinky Hijikata survived a rollercoaster three-set battle to defeat Alexander Bublik 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-3 in the Round of 32 at Indian Wells on March 9, 2026. The Australian withstood Bublik’s 19 aces and 40 winners by exploiting the Kazakh’s erratic play, converting 49 unforced errors into a hard-fought victory.
The match turned on razor-thin margins in the opening two sets. After Bublik claimed the first-set tiebreak 7-3, Hijikata responded by flipping the script in the second, dominating his own breaker 7-3 to level the contest. With the match deadlocked and neither player earning a single break point through two sets, consistency became the deciding factor. Bublik’s shot-making brilliance — 40 winners to Hijikata’s 33 — was undone by a staggering unforced error count that nearly doubled his opponent’s. The Australian’s steadier second serve (57% points won compared to Bublik’s 44%) proved decisive when games tightened.
Hijikata seized control in the decider, breaking through for the only service break of the match and closing out 6-3. He won 121 total points to Bublik’s 115, a narrow margin that reflected the knife-edge nature of a match where fortunes shifted set by set. The win sends Hijikata into the Round of 16 at the California desert.
Key Takeaways
- Alexander Bublik hit 19 aces to Hijikata’s 8, but undermined his firepower with 49 unforced errors — 22 more than his opponent — turning aggression into self-destruction.
- Neither player converted a break point through the first two sets (0/0 for both), making the tiebreaks and eventual third-set break the only separation in an otherwise deadlocked contest.
- Hijikata’s superior second-serve effectiveness (57% points won vs. Bublik’s 44%) provided the foundation for victory when first-serve dominance proved nearly equal (77% vs. 78%).
- Despite Bublik producing seven more winners (40 to 33), Hijikata’s cleaner play yielded a six-point advantage in total points won (121-115) — a margin that proved decisive across three tight sets.
Player Analysis
Rinky Hijikata
Hijikata’s victory was a masterclass in resilience and damage limitation. He absorbed everything Bublik threw at him — 19 aces, 40 winners — and refused to crack when it mattered most. His second-serve points won (57%) became the bedrock of his success, winning crucial exchanges when Bublik’s aggression faltered. With just 27 unforced errors across a three-set marathon, Hijikata played the percentages and trusted that his opponent’s high-risk approach would eventually backfire. The Australian’s ability to reset after losing the first-set tiebreak, then dominate the second breaker by the same 7-3 margin, showcased mental toughness that belied his ranking.
His eight aces may seem modest compared to Bublik’s barrage, but Hijikata didn’t need to overpower — he simply needed to outlast. The lone break of serve in the third set was the reward for two sets of patient, disciplined tennis.
Alexander Bublik
Bublik’s performance was quintessentially him: spectacular and self-sabotaging in equal measure. Nineteen aces and 40 winners demonstrated the Kazakh’s shot-making brilliance, yet 49 unforced errors — nearly one per game — handed the match to Hijikata on a silver platter. His first serve remained potent (78% points won), but a woeful 44% success rate on second-serve points left him defenseless in extended rallies. The inability to create or convert break points (0/0) reflected a match where his service games were strong but his return games lacked the discipline required to apply pressure.
Bublik’s third-set collapse — losing 6-3 after splitting two tiebreaks — exposed the fragility that lurks beneath his flashy game. When consistency mattered most, the errors piled up and the magic ran dry.
Match Statistics
| Rinky Hijikata | Stat | Alexander Bublik |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Aces | 19 |
| 3 | Double Faults | 5 |
| 63% | 1st Serve % | 66% |
| 77% | 1st Serve Points Won | 78% |
| 57% | 2nd Serve Points Won | 44% |
| 33 | Winners | 40 |
| 27 | Unforced Errors | 49 |
| 121 | Total Points Won | 115 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Rinky Hijikata vs Alexander Bublik at Indian Wells 2026?
Rinky Hijikata defeated Alexander Bublik 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-3 in the Round of 32 at the ATP Indian Wells tournament on March 9, 2026.
How many aces did Alexander Bublik hit against Rinky Hijikata?
Alexander Bublik hit 19 aces in the match, more than double Hijikata’s eight, but committed 49 unforced errors that ultimately cost him the victory.
Who won the Indian Wells Round of 32 match between Hijikata and Bublik?
Rinky Hijikata won the match in three sets, prevailing 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-3 to advance to the Round of 16.
How many unforced errors did Alexander Bublik make against Rinky Hijikata at Indian Wells?
Bublik committed 49 unforced errors, 22 more than Hijikata’s 27, which proved to be the decisive difference in the three-set thriller.
What’s Next
Hijikata advances to the Round of 16 at Indian Wells, where he will look to continue his upset run on the hard courts of the California desert. For Bublik, it’s another early exit in a season that continues to promise more than it delivers.
Follow all results: ATP Indian Wells 2026.
Head-to-head history: Alexander Bublik vs Rinky Hijikata.
