Sport
He Beat His Childhood Hero—But What Happened After the Final Point Left Tennis Fans Emotional
NEW YORK — It was the kind of victory Rei Sakamoto had dreamed about as a young tennis fan—but perhaps never imagined would come with so much emotion. The 20-year-old Japanese rising star defeated his childhood idol, Kei Nishikori, 6-4, 7-6 (3) in the final round of qualifying at the 2026 US Open, securing a coveted place in the tournament's main draw while bringing an emotional end to one of Japan's greatest tennis careers at Grand Slam level. For Sakamoto, the celebration came with mixed emo
