19-Year-Old Sakamoto Joins Djokovic, Murray & Others with Historic Win
For the first time since 2007, five teenagers have advanced to the second round in Miami.
March 20, 2026
ATP Tour
Rei Sakamoto Triumphs in His First ATP Tour Match in Miami
By Jerome Coombe
Rei Sakamoto has etched his name into the annals of teenage talent at this year’s Miami Open presented by Itau, celebrating a remarkable first ATP Tour win on Friday.
After facing five tough losses on tour, the 19-year-old wild card from Japan rose to the challenge at this prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event. He sealed his victory by converting his fifth match point, edging past Aleksandar Kovacevic with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(7). This win sets Sakamoto up for a second-round encounter against the resurgent Indian Wells finalist, Daniil Medvedev.
Joining fellow teens Moise Kouame (17), Darwin Blanch (18), Rafael Jodar (19), and Joao Fonseca (19) in the second round, Sakamoto ensured that five teenagers reach this milestone in Miami for the first time since 2007. Back then, rising stars like Juan Martin del Potro (18), Evgeny Korolev (19), Sam Querrey (19), along with Novak Djokovic (19) and Andy Murray (19) achieved a similar feat.
In their inaugural Lexus ATP Head2Head clash, which featured several rain delays, Sakamoto demonstrated remarkable composure in the decisive set. After narrowly missing a match point at 6-5 and then three more in the tie-break, the young Japanese player ultimately clinched victory.
Kovacevic had previously taken former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic to three sets in Indian Wells, but he found himself outmatched by Sakamoto’s resilience.
Samurai Sakamoto ⚔️
19-year-old Rei Sakamoto claims his first-ever tour-level victory, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(7) over Kovacevic! @MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/6p6aPirSpm
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 20, 2026
Having secured the 2024 Australian Open boys’ title, Sakamoto continued his ascent last season, capturing two additional ATP Challenger titles. He thus became the first Japanese teenager to win three trophies at that level.
Competing in Miami ranked No. 164 in the PIF ATP Rankings—just seven places short of his career high—Sakamoto is now eager to carry this momentum into his match against the ninth-seeded Medvedev.
