Japanese’s Rei Sakamoto earns a US Open spot, but beats his retiring hero Kei Nishikori to do it

Rei Sakamoto defeated Kei Nishikori 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Friday to qualify for the US Open main draw, ending his Japanese compatriot’s bid for one final Grand Slam appearance. The 20-year-old Sakamoto, competing in the qualifying tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, struck 19 aces and converted his opportunity after Nishikori saved two match points. Nishikori, 36, entered qualifying with a USTA wild card because his ranking no longer guaranteed direct entry. The former world No. 4 announced in April that he would retire after the 2026 season. He reached the 2014 US Open final, becoming the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final. Sakamoto, who said Nishikori was his lifelong idol, will make his first US Open main-draw appearance. The qualifying victory also marks a generational moment for Japanese men’s tennis. Main-draw play begins Sunday in New York City.