Rei Sakamoto
Japanese tennis player (born 2006)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rei Sakamoto (坂本怜, Sakamoto Rei; born 24 June 2006) is a Japanese professional tennis player.[1] He has a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 156 achieved on 4 May 2026 and a doubles ranking of No. 749 achieved on 13 April 2026.[2] He is currently the No. 3 singles player from Japan.[3]
Japan| Country (sports) | Japan |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 June 2006 Nagoya, Japan |
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Coach | Federico Ricci[1] |
| Prize money | US $452,568 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 1–6 (at ATP Tour level, Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 156 (4 May 2026) |
| Current ranking | No. 156 (4 May 2026) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2026) |
| US Open | Q2 (2025) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 0–2 (at ATP Tour level, Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 749 (13 April 2026) |
| Current ranking | No. 1,093 (4 May 2026) |
| Last updated on: 4 May 2026. | |
Sakamoto has won three singles titles on ATP Challenger Tour. He represents Japan at the Davis Cup.
Junior tennis
Sakamoto had remarkable results on the ITF junior circuit, maintaining a 114–39 singles win-loss record.[citation needed] In March 2023, he earned the boys' doubles title at the Banana Bowl, a top junior-level event hosted in Criciúma, Brazil. Playing with Italian Federico Cinà as top-seeds, the pair defeated seventh seeds Daniil Sarksian and Yaroslav Demin in the final.
In January 2024, he won the J300 Traralgon International dropping only one set. He defeated second seed Nicolai Budkov Kjær in the final.[4]
Later that month, Sakamoto won his most prestigious title at junior-level – the boys' singles event at the Australian Open, defeating Czech Jan Kumstát in the final.[5][6]
He was also runner-up in the boys' doubles category at the 2024 French Open, with Federico Cinà. They lost to top seeds Nicolai Budkov Kjær and Joel Schwärzler in the final.[7]
Later that season, Sakamoto was crowned a champion in doubles at the 2024 US Open, with Czech Maxim Mrva. The pair defeated Denis Peták and Flynn Thomas in the final.[8][1]
He reached an ITF junior combined ranking of world No. 1 on 27 May 2024.[9]
Professional career
2024: First Challenger title
In March, Sakamoto received a wildcard for qualifying competition at the Miami Open, an ATP 1000-level event, but lost to Czech Vít Kopřiva in the first round.[10]
At the age of 18 and five months, Sakamoto won his first title at the 2024 Yokkaichi Challenger becoming the second youngest Japanese titlist after Kei Nishikori to lift an ATP Challenger trophy in history. As a result he reached the top 500 in the rankings on 2 December 2024.[11][12][13]
2025: Masters and top 175 debuts
Sakamoto received a wildcard for the qualifying competition at the 2025 Australian Open.[14]
Sakamoto made his Masters main draw debut at the 2025 Miami Open after qualifying, but lost to Alexandre Müller.[15]
He won his second Challenger title at 2025 Cary Tennis Classic and reached new career-high ranking of world No. 206 on 14 July 2025, rising 85 positions up in the singles rankings.[16][1] Sakamoto made history with winning his third title at home in Yokohama, becoming the first Japanese teenager to win three Challenger titles. As a result he reached the top 175 in the singles rankings at world No. 159 on 24 November 2025.[17][18]
2026: Major debut, First ATP and Masters win
Sakamoto made his Grand Slam debut at the 2026 Australian Open after qualifying for the main draw,[19] but lost to fellow qualifier Rafael Jódar in the first round.[20] Having received a wildcard for the 2026 Miami Open, Sakamoto recorded his first ATP and Masters win defeating Aleksandar Kovacevic.[21][22]
Performance timeline
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Singles
Current through the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open.
| Tournament | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | SR | W–L | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||
| Australian Open | A | Q1 | 1R | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% |
| French Open | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |
| Wimbledon | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |
| US Open | A | Q2 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |
| Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% |
| ATP 1000 tournaments | ||||||
| Indian Wells Open | A | A | Q1 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Miami Open | Q1 | 1R | 2R | 0 / 2 | 1–2 | 33% |
| Monte-Carlo Masters | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Madrid Open | A | A | Q2 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Italian Open | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |
| Canadian Open | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |
| Cincinnati Open | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |
| Shanghai Masters | A | 1R | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | |
| Paris Masters | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |
| Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0 / 3 | 1–3 | 25% |
ATP Challenger Tour finals
Singles: 3 (3 titles)
|
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Nov 2024 | Yokkaichi Challenger, Japan | Challenger | Hard |  Christoph Negritu |
1–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 2–0 | Jun 2025 | Cary Tennis Classic, US | Challenger | Hard |  Liam Draxl |
6–1, 6–4 |
| Win | 3–0 | Nov 2025 | Yokohama Keio Challenger, Japan | Challenger | Hard | Kaichi Uchida |
4–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–4 |
ITF World Tennis Tour finals
Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
|
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Feb 2024 | M15 Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt | WTT | Hard |  Jan Hrazdil |
 Emile Hudd David Stevenson |
6–3, 6–7(8–10), [11–9] |
| Loss | 1–1 | May 2024 | M15 Cervia, Italy | WTT | Clay |  Federico Bondioli |
Gianluca Cadenasso Jacopo Bilardo |
walkover |
Junior Grand Slam finals
Singles: 1 (title)
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 2024 | Australian Open | Hard | Jan Kumstát |
3–6, 7–6(7–2), 7–5 |
Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 2024 | French Open | Clay | Federico Cinà |
 Nicolai Budkov Kjær  Joel Schwärzler |
4–6, 6–7(3–7) |
| Win | 2024 | US Open | Hard | Maxim Mrva |
Denis Peták Flynn Thomas |
7–5, 7–6(7–1) |