Japan's Sakamoto claims maiden ATP win as teenage talent shines in Miami

Tennis - Davis Cup - Qualifiers - Second Round - Japan v Germany - Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan - September 13, 2025 Japan's Rei Sakamoto in action during an exhibition match against... Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab March 20 (Reuters) - Rei Sakamoto became the latest teenager to make an impact at the Miami Open on Friday, claiming his first ATP Tour victory ​as five young players reached the second round of the ‌Masters 1000 event for the first time in 19 years. The 19-year-old Japanese wildcard beat Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4 3-6 7-6(7) in a rain-interrupted match to set up ​a second-round meeting with ninth seed Daniil Medvedev. Sakamoto, who won the ​boys' singles title at the 2024 Australian Open, is ⁠ranked 164th in the world and his victory added to a remarkable ​collection of teenage triumphs at Hard Rock Stadium this week. Kouame also became the first ​player born in 2009 or later to win an ATP Tour match. Ranked 385th ‌in ⁠the world, the French wildcard is the youngest player ranked in the top 900 players and next plays Czech 21st seed Jiri Lehecka. Brazilian 19-year-old Joao Fonseca eked out a 6-4 3-6 6-2 victory over Hungary's Fabian ​Marozsan to set ​up a second-round ⁠clash with world number one Carlos Alcaraz, and American Darwin Blanch, an 18-year-old wildcard, overcame German Jan-Lennard ​Struff 6-3 3-6 6-3. Together with Spanish 19-year-old Rafael Jodar, ​who beat ⁠German Yannick Hanfmann 6-4 4-6 6-1, the five teenagers reaching the second round in Miami marked the first such occurrence since 2007, when a ⁠group including ​the 19-year-old Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Evgeny ​Korolev and Sam Querrey , as well as Juan Martin del Potro, 18, came through the ​opening round. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab