At the Kinoshita Group Japan Open in Tokyo, wildcard entrant Rei Sakamoto drew world No. 37 Matteo Arnaldi in the opening round of the ATP 500 tournament at Ariake Coliseum, opening up a potential second-round matchup against top seed Carlos Alcaraz.
The Draw and First-Round Outlook
During the main draw ceremony on Sept. 28, children from the crowd drew the matchups for the tournament, a sequence Sakamoto welcomed with humor. “The kids drew me into a pretty good spot,” Sakamoto said after the draw, according to tournament comments. “Wherever you look, it was going to be tough, but Arnaldi is probably the best outcome,” Sakamoto said, adding a lighthearted remark about the Italian player. “I don’t want to say it because it might jinx me, but honestly, I want to praise them for doing a good job.”
Facing Familiar Ties and Grand Slam Form
Arnaldi shares the same home country as Sakamoto’s coach, giving the Japanese teenager access to familiar tactical insight. Sakamoto expressed confidence in his preparation. “My coach has connections and I’m sure we’ve talked through everything. He will give me words that help me focus, so I have no anxiety about a lack of information. I’ll just do my best and play with confidence,” Sakamoto said.
Tour-Level Ambitions and Alcaraz on the Horizon
Sakamoto views his participation in the domestic ATP 500 event as a bonus opportunity rather than an expected milestone. “It’s like a bonus. There just happened to be a big tournament in Japan, and I happened to be in a position to get a wildcard,” Sakamoto said. Looking past the opening match, Sakamoto acknowledged the prospect of facing Alcaraz in the second round. “Of course, I first have to do my best in the first round, but once you see it, you naturally want to play him,” Sakamoto said.
Reflecting on Kei Nishikori’s Departure
The tournament also marks a significant transition for Japanese tennis, serving as a final appearance for veteran star Kei Nishikori. Sakamoto, who has long regarded Nishikori as an inspiration, shared mixed emotions about the veteran’s departure from the sport’s central stage. “Honestly, I feel a sense of loneliness. Japanese tennis belonged to Kei Nishikori, so his leaving means the face of tennis is gone,” Sakamoto said. At the same time, Sakamoto outlined his own career ambitions. “While I feel that sadness, I also have two feelings: that Kei-kun’s achievements are my goal, and that I want to be the next one to take over and become the new face.”
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