Sakamoto breaks through in Miami and reveals what he learned from Sinner

Iker Jiménez | 20 Mar 2026 | 21.48

Sakamoto breaks through in Miami and leaves a lesson after training with Sinner. Source: Getty

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Rei Sakamoto is getting closer to becoming a reality. The 19-year-old Japanese achieved his first ATP victory at the 2026 Miami Open by defeating Aleksandar Kovacevic with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(7) in a highly tense match that he resolved on his fifth match point. This triumph confirms his progression and allows him to take another step towards establishing himself in the elite.

The junior champion of the 2024 Australian Open, Sakamoto is in the process of adapting to the professional circuit, accumulating experiences that are shaping his tennis. One of the most recent ones is his training session with Jannik Sinner, which left him with a lesson that could define his career.

“Every shot had a purpose”

The Japanese player didn't hide the impact of sharing the court with the Italian. "I had the opportunity to train with Sinner. We warmed up and played almost two sets. The score was 6-4, 3-5. Sinner wasn't trying to win the practice; he was working on his game. That's probably why I managed to win a set," he joked. Beyond the result, what really struck him was the training approach. "What impressed me the most were the rallies. There were hardly any drop shots. Every shot had a purpose. The intensity was very high. Before we started, I thought: 'What if I can't even return a shot? What if I can't even warm up properly?'"

That session made him change his understanding of daily work. "You can see how much he puts into the court with his forehand. That made me understand that training is not about winning points; it's about working on your game. In matches, you play to win. But in training, you play to improve. Not just to win the point in front of you, but to keep improving your tennis. It was a great lesson." Even so, the young player ended up gaining confidence in his own game. "In the slower rallies, I defended quite well. It was an incredible experience. My second serve worked very well."

A Future Full of Dreams

His victory against Kovacevic is not an isolated incident. Sakamoto is part of a new generation making its way on the circuit, as evidenced by the fact that five teenagers (Moise Kouamé, Darwin Blanch, Rafael Jódar, Joao Fonseca, and him) have reached the second round in Miami for the first time since 2007, when players like Djokovic, Murray, or Del Potro did so.

Currently outside the top 150 but clearly progressing, the Japanese player has already won two titles on the Challenger circuit and competes competently against ATP-level opponents. His ability to handle pressure moments, as shown in his Miami debut, reinforces his position as one of the names to watch. Now he faces a bigger challenge in the second round against Daniil Medvedev, a test of extreme demand that will gauge his true competitive level.

However, beyond the immediate results, Sakamoto has already sent a clear signal. He has talent, room for improvement, and, above all, he is starting to have clear ideas. And that, at his age, is almost as important as winning matches.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sakamoto irrumpe en Miami y revela lo aprendido con Sinner