Rei Sakamoto Claims Maiden ATP Challenger Title at Yokkaichi
Yokkaichi, Japan – Japan’s rising tennis sensation Rei Sakamoto, captured his maiden ATP Challenger title at the Yokkaichi event, marking a major milestone in his emerging professional career.
The former junior world No. 1 staged an impressive comeback in the final, defeating German qualifier Christoph Negritu 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 42 minutes.
Sakamoto made the most of his sixth ATP Challenger appearance by going the full distance.
His previous best result came just last week, when he reached the quarterfinals at the Yokohama Challenger.
The title earned him 54 ATP points and propelled him from world No. 682 to a career-high No. 412, a leap of over 270 spots.
Sakamoto, who received a wild card into the tournament started his campaign with a solid performance against South Africa’s Philip Henning, winning 6-4, 6-3. In the second round, he overcame a tough challenge from Naoki Nakagawa, edging him 7-6(9), 6-3. He then dispatched Kaito Uchida 6-4, 7-6(3) in the quarterfinals.
In the semi-finals, Sakamoto triumphed in a hard-fought all-Japanese clash against Shintaro Mochizuki, taking the match 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to reach his first Challenger final.
The championship match began with a slow start for Sakamoto, as Negritu took the first set 6-1 with two service breaks. However, Sakamoto found his rhythm in the second set, maintaining a service game and securing a decisive break to level the match. In the final set, he held his nerve, breaking Negritu once to seal the victory and claim the title.
Sakamoto’s triumph in Yokkaichi adds to a remarkable 2024 season. He started the year by winning the Australian Open Junior singles title and later captured the doubles title at the US Open Juniors in September. His transition to the professional circuit has been swift, with the Yokkaichi title serving as a testament to his potential.
This victory makes Sakamoto the fourth player born in 2006 to win an ATP Challenger title, joining Joel Schwaerzler, Joao Fonseca, and Martin Landaluce.
The maiden Challenger title has boosted Sakamoto’s ATP ranking, enabling him to crack the top-450 for the first time in his career and marking a significant rise, showcasing his readiness to compete at higher levels.
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