Japanese's Rei Sakamoto Earns a US Open Spot, but Beats His Retiring Hero Kei Nishikori to Do It
Sakamoto hit 19 aces and saved two match points as the 20-year-old denied Nishikori one last Grand Slam appearance.
- On Friday, 20-year-old Rei Sakamoto defeated Kei Nishikori 6-4, 7-6 in the final round of US Open qualifying, earning a spot in the main draw.
- The U.S. Tennis Association granted Nishikori a wild card into qualifying as the 36-year-old battles injuries during what he said will be his final season.
- Sakamoto pounded 19 aces to outplay Nishikori, who saved two match points late in the second set before the final ace ended the match.
- "Not happy to lose today, but I'm happy for Rei," Nishikori said, while Sakamoto called his opponent a "superstar" and lifelong idol.
- Sakamoto, who was 8 years old when Nishikori reached the 2014 US Open final, is now positioned as Japan's next top player.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Los Angeles Times
Independent EspañolRei Sakamoto made his way to the U.S. Open—but only by staying with the place Kei Nishikori, Japan's biggest male tennis star, expected to get for a final appearance at a Grand Slam tournament.
The Sun Chronicle
Hometown News LPJapan's Rei Sakamoto earns a US Open spot, but beats his retiring hero Kei Nishikori to do it
NEW YORK (AP) — Rei Sakamoto played his way into the U.S. Open — but only by taking the spot that Kei Nishikori, Japan's greatest men's tennis star, hoped to earn for one last Grand Slam appearance.
US Open Finalist Kei Nishikori Ends Career With Emotional Message After Qualifying Loss
Kei Nishikori’s Grand Slam career has come to an end at the very tournament that made his name, the 2014 US Open finalist eliminated in the final round of qualifying by fellow Japanese player Rei Sakamoto, 6-4, 7-6, just one win short of a main-draw return. Nishikori, who had received a wildcard into qualifying after […] The post US Open Finalist Kei Nishikori Ends Career With Emotional Message After Qualifying Loss appeared first on Essentially…
Associated Press News
Japanese's Rei Sakamoto earns a US Open spot, but beats his retiring hero Kei Nishikori to do it
Rei Sakamoto played his way into the U.S. Open — but only by taking the spot that Kei Nishikori, Japan’s greatest men’s tennis star, hoped to earn for one last Grand Slam appearance.
In a dramatic and symbolic match from the final qualifying round of the US Open, the young hope of Japanese tennis Rei Sakamoto secured a place in the main draw of the last Grand Slam tournament of the year. The 20-year-old talent defeated his idol and legend of Asian tennis Kei Nishikori 6:4, 7:6 (3).
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