YOKKAICHI/STARNBERG, December 3, 2024
Japanese teenager Rei Sakamoto capped a dream week on home soil by winning his first title on the Pro Circuit. The 18-year-old former Junior World No. 1 lifted the trophy of the Yokkaichi Challenger. Sakamoto rallied from a set down to overcome German qualifier Christoph Negritu 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in Sunday’s singles final.
Sakamoto entered the main draw of the ATP Challenger Tour 75 hard-court event with a wild card and battled his way to the championship match with wins in the top half of the draw over South African qualifier Philip Henning, Japanese alternate Naoki Nakagawa as well as his compatriots Kaichi Uchida and Shintaro Mochizuki.
Sakamoto hit 11 aces and won 73 per cent of his first-service points. He broke Negritu’s serve two times to succeed in one hour and 42 minutes.
Rei’s reign BEGINS
First Challenger title in the bag for Rei Sakamoto as the 18-year-old defeats Negritu 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 to capture the Yokkaichi crown! #OnTheRise pic.twitter.com/6owGLh4C1d
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) December 1, 2024
The Nagoya native, who captured the 2024 Australian Open boys’ singles title as well as the boys’ doubles title at the US Open this year, earned $11,200 in prize money as well as 75 ATP Ranking points. Sakamoto has reached a new career-high Ranking of World No. 412.
The fourth edition of the Yokkaichi Challenger offered a total prize pool of $82,000 and was held at the Yokkaichi Tennis Center. Yokkaichi is a vibrant industrial city located in Mie Prefecture, Japan, along the northern coastline of Ise Bay.
Known as a key hub for Japan’s petrochemical industry, the city played a pivotal role in the nation’s post-World War II economic boom. Yokkaichi’s name, which translates to “Four-Day Market,” reflects its historical roots as a trading town where a bustling market was held every fourth day. Yokkaichi also boasts cultural attractions, including the Yokkaichi Dome, a prominent sports and event venue, and Suwa Shrine, which holds a variety of traditional festivals.
