Japan’s Rei Sakamoto claims maiden ATP win as teenage talent shines at Miami Open

MIAMI – Rei Sakamoto became the latest teenager to make an impact at the Miami Open on March 20, claiming his first ATP Tour victory as five young players reached the second round of the Masters 1000 event for the first time in 19 years.

The 19-year-old Japanese wild card beat Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9-7) in a rain-interrupted match to set up a second-round meeting with ninth seed Daniil Medvedev on March 21.

Sakamoto, who won the boys’ singles title at the 2024 Australian Open, is ranked world No. 164 and his victory added to a remarkable collection of teenage triumphs at Hard Rock Stadium this week.

French wild card Moise Kouame, 17, had become the first player born in 2009 or later to win an ATP Tour match with his first-round triumph. But the world No. 385, the youngest player in the top 900 rankings, fell to Czech 21st seed Jiri Lehecka 6-2, 7-5 in the round of 64.

Brazilian 19-year-old Joao Fonseca had also eked out a three-set victory over Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan before losing to world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 6-4 in the second round.

He has been sent packing by Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz in consecutive Masters events, having been edged out in two tie-breaks by eventual champion Sinner earlier in March at Indian Wells. 

“I think I was really good in crucial moments. I was really good from the beginning until the last ball,” said Alcaraz after his first career meeting against Fonseca. “I know how good Joao is and that’s why I was really focused, every point, every shot, trying to figure out what is the best possible shot for me.”

American Darwin Blanch, an 18-year-old wild card, also exited in the round of 64 after overcoming German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in his opener. Frenchman Arthur Fils defeated Blanch 6-2, 6-3 on March 20.

Spanish 19-year-old Rafael Jodar has gone even further, entering the last 32 after thumping Australian Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-2 on March 21. He had earlier beaten German Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 and will play Zizou Bergs or Tomas Martin Etcheverry next.

Elsewhere, Britain’s Jack Draper suffered a surprise defeat by American Reilly Opelka, while Ethan Quinn claimed the biggest win of his career by upsetting 11th seed Casper Ruud. Both the big names lost in straight sets.

In the women’s draw, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka held off determined American Ann Li 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to launch her Miami title defence.

The Belarusian was pleased to get through in straight sets against her 39th-ranked foe in a match moved to the third show court, as the organisers hustled to get the rain-hit tournament back on schedule.

She needed more than an hour to pocket a first set in which she led 4-1 and wasted seven break points in the eighth game.

“I was there, I was fighting no matter what, even though my game probably wasn’t the best one that I have,” Sabalenka said.
REUTERS, AFP