Challenger

#NextGenATP Sakamoto surging with Nishikori's support

Japan’s Rei Sakamoto remembers the minute details of watching Kei Nishikori compete in the 2014 US Open final. Sakamoto was eight years old, eating oranges at his grandma’s house while watching Nishikori make history on championship Sunday.

Nishikori, former No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings, became the first Asian male to reach a Slam final. It was a monumental moment that inspired Japanese fans across the world, including the young Sakamoto.

Fast forward to 2025 and Sakamoto is amidst his early professional journey on the ATP Challenger Tour. He ended last season in historic fashion, becoming the second-youngest Japanese Challenger champion with a title run on home soil in Yokkaichi. The only Japanese player to earn a title at a younger age? His idol Nishikori in 2008.

Sakamoto's milestone achievement has been a step forward in his career, but it has also deepened his admiration for Nishikori's accolades.

“Whenever I compare myself to Kei when he was my age, I feel like he’s in a different world,” Sakamoto told ATPTour.com. “He won his first ATP tournament when he just turned 18. Right now I won a Challenger, but whenever I compare myself — as I get closer to him, I feel farther.”

^{Rei Sakamoto in action at the Nonthaburi Challenger. Credit: The Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand}

Still, there are some parallels between Sakamoto and Nishikori’s early days. In February 2022, Sakamoto moved from Japan to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where Nishikori began training at age 14.

Being more than 11,000 kilometres from home was a big transition for Sakamoto, then 15 years old and at that time “didn’t know how to communicate in English”.

Sakamoto, the No. 364 in the PIF ATP Rankings, has since trained with Nishikori and developed a friendship with the 12-time tour-level champion. The #NextGenATP star has come full circle since sitting in his grandma’s living room, watching Nishikori on TV. Sakamoto and Nishikori partnered in doubles at last year's Tokyo ATP 500 event.

“He’s so nice and friendly. Then sometimes he makes some jokes,” Sakamoto said of Nishikori. “On court, he still looks the way he used to be, but off court, he’s just one chill guy. I like him a lot.”

As a tour-veteran with experience of making an early breakthrough, Nishikori has generously shared advice with his younger statesman, who stands at 6’4” (193cm).

“I think almost two years ago we were practising and we were taking a rest, drinking water, he said, ‘If you could put more pressure, with your height, with the serve plus-one, that’s how the top pros are right now,’” Sakamoto recalled. “I started thinking about changing my tennis a little bit to a more aggressive way.”

Nishikori was a Top 20 player when Sakamoto first picked up a racquet at age six. As a child, Sakamoto participated in swimming, baseball and volleyball. And when he narrowed it down between swimming and tennis, it was an easy decision.

“Practising swimming was not fun at all, you’re just moving back and forth and it makes no sense to me,” Sakamoto said with a laugh. “So I chose tennis.”

In January 2024, Sakamoto was crowned champion at the Australian Open boys’ singles event. Sakamoto did not fully grasp the magnitude of his triumph until later that night when he saw his Instagram followers had doubled.

A funny moment came at the trophy presentation, during which Sakamoto stepped up to the microphone and adopted an Australian accent, “G'day mate,” he uttered.

“I think winning that big tournament gave me confidence that I can perform on a big stage,” Sakamoto recalled. “Playing at Rod Laver Arena — the feeling I had was exactly the same from when I was watching at home on TV. That was a really special experience. That was the best memory I’ve had in my life.”

Sakamoto has still only played eight ATP Challenger Tour events. At tenth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, he is one to watch as he aims for his maiden trip to the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.

“The goal is to be playing qualifying for the US Open, to have enough ranking for that,” Sakamoto said. “If I could play the Next Gen Finals, that would be a great experience.”