January 6, 2026
Welcome to the first ever edition of Tick Tock Tennis Daily Intel!
Every day of the week is a new topic, and today's we're taking a look at a player I think you'll be hearing a lot about in the coming year...
Kei Nishikori inspired a generation of Japanese tennis players by reaching the 2014 US Open final. One of them was a 7yo kid eating oranges at his grandmother's house.
Eleven years later, Rei Sakamoto is a grand slam junior champion and making big moves at the ATP Challenger level. As he follows in his idol's footsteps, Sakamoto brings a personality Japanese tennis hasn't seen before.
Get to know... Rei Sakamoto.
Rei Sakamoto was born into a volleyball family. So, naturally, young Rei gave volleyball a try. And baseball. And swimming.
But everything clicked when he picked up a racquet at age six.
"That first time I gripped my racquet, I knew I was going to be a good player," he told the ATP.¹
The confidence was earned early. He won the National Junior High Championship at 14, and by 15 had earned a scholarship from the Masaaki Morita Tennis Fund, the same program that launched Nishikori's career.
In February 2022, Sakamoto moved to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, the legendary facility where Nishikori trained under Nick Bollettieri.
But, the transition wasn't seamless.
"I was a little bit insecure about the language, the culture, and the food," he admitted.²
Still, results came fast. In January 2024, he became the first Japanese player to win the Australian Open Boys Singles title, defeating Jan Kumstát in a three-set final. By May, he was the ITF Junior World No. 1. That September, he turned pro, partnering with his idol Nishikori in doubles at the ATP 500 in Tokyo.
Sakamoto won his first Challenger title in Yokkaichi, Japan in November 2024, becoming the second-youngest Japanese Challenger champion after - who else - Kei Nishikori.
Two more titles followed in 2025:; Cary in June and Yokohama in November.
That Yokohama run was something special, dropping the opening set in three straight victories, culminating in a 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 championship triumph over Kaichi Uchida.
He's climbed 523 ranking spots in 12 months, qualified for main draws at both Miami and Shanghai, and beaten three top-100 players in qualifying rounds.
The game is built around height (6 ft 4 in) and weapons. His serve reaches 131 mph. His forehand is a legitimate tour-level weapon. And, coach Federico Ricci notes that Sakamoto's ball speed already stands out against top-100 players.³
But it's his swagger and personality that separates him from other Japanese prospects. The samurai celebration — dropping to one knee and unsheathing his racquet like a sword — has become his trademark.
"Samurais have to kill to stay alive," he explained. "When I go on court, I'm ready to win the battle."¹
The Nishikori comparison is unavoidable, and Sakamoto knows it.
"Whenever I compare myself to Kei when he was my age, I feel like he's in a different world," he said. "Every time I feel closer, I also feel farther."⁴
The Japanese teen didn't have to wait long to see ATP action in 2026, earning a main draw wildcard into the Hong Kong Open this week through the NextGen Accelerator Program. Though he fell to #5 seed Lorenzo Sonego, 6-2, 7-6⁴ in his opening match, he heads to Melbourne to play Australian Open qualifying next.
¹ ATP Tour, "Meet Rei Sakamoto: Inside the Rise of the #NextGenATP Samurai", July 2025 (link)
² Tennis.com, "Rei Sakamoto, 18, surging with Kei Nishikori's support", 2025
³ ATP Tour, Coach Federico Ricci interview, July 2025
⁴ NextGen ATP Finals, "Next in Line: Early Memories", October 2025 (link)
Great tennis journalism is worth your time... and money! So, each week, I highlight a few writers, podcasts, vlogs, and articles you should seek out.
Jessica Schiffer is carving out a fascinating niche at the intersection of business and tennis. Her reporting on Wilson's major moves in the tennis apparel space is a must-read as we head into the new sponsorship contract year.
