Rei Sakamoto is quietly making waves in 2026.
While the focus of the local attention has been on the Australian qualifiers this week, the 19-year-old Japanese rising star advanced to his first Australian Open main draw berth without dropping a set.
Celebrating with his now-trademark samurai celebration, Sakamoto has had a steady rise over the past four years.
As a junior, the young talent had solid results on the ITF circuit, maintaining a 114-39 singles record and winning four titles in 2022.
Sakamoto’s big breakthrough, however, came right here in Melbourne after he won the Australian Open 2024 boys’ singles title, defeating big-serving Czech Jan Kumstát 3-6 7-6(2) 7-5 in the final.
Even at such a young age, Sakamoto demonstrated mental maturity beyond his years.
“I am playing the best tennis of my life since last week, I am trusting myself,” he said after winning the title in 2024.
“The mental side is the most important part. It’s about focus, the brain. It’s the most important part, 80 per cent of tennis is the brain.”
The Japanese continued to perform well for the rest of that season, becoming the junior ITF World No.1 in May that year.
Sakamoto also had success in doubles, finishing runner-up in the boys' doubles event at Roland Garros 2024 with Italian Federico Cinà and, later that season, was crowned champion in doubles at the US Open with Czech Maxim Mrva.
Sakamoto didn’t stop there, becoming the first Japanese teenager to win three ATP Challenger titles by the end of last year, sending his ranking to a career high No. 159 in November.
Sakamoto attributed that samurai spirit as a key aspect to his on-court demeanor, which he believes has contributed to his early success.
“When I’m going on the court, I’m ready to win the battle and always staying in the moment, fighting until the end. That’s the samurai,” he said after his quarterfinal win over Australian Tristan Schoolkate at the 2025 ATP Challenger event in Cary.
Now, two years after his junior Grand Slam title in Australia, Sakamoto has reached another milestone by qualifying for his first Grand Slam main draw at AO 2026.
Australia has become a happy hunting ground for the 19-year-old, who feels the court conditions at Melbourne Park bring out his best.
“In pre-season, I made qualifying for the main draw a goal, so it feels good,” he said.
“I think the surface suits me pretty well. I like my serve to bounce higher and have an advantage with the serve, it makes it easier to build. I like the crowd and environment here, it makes me feel comfortable.”
Less than a year into his first full season on the Challenger circuit, the world No. 206 appears to be having a smooth transition from junior to pro.
In the opening round of AO 2026, Sakamoto will face another former junior champion in Rafael Jodar, the Spaniard who won the US Open boys’ singles crown the same year Sakamoto won his AO junior title.
MORE: AO 2026 men's singles draw
Along with Jodar, Sakamoto joins a wave of rising talent including Norway’s Nicolai Budkov Kjaer and American Nishesh Basavareddy in the main draw.
Plenty of promising junior Grand Slam champions have struggled to maintain that early success, but Sakamoto is already starting to live up to his potential.
With a big serve, a big forehand and a big heart, Sakamoto looks set to impress at AO 2026 and beyond.