Sakamoto knocks out Rublev: the qualifier advances in Shanghai

Rei Sakamoto, world No. 137 who came through qualifying, beat Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and twenty-two minutes in the second round of the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The 20-year-old Japanese broke the Russian, world No. 24, twice and saved the only two break points he faced.

In Shanghai Sakamoto has won four matches in five days. In qualifying he got past Seongchan Hong and then, in three sets, Kyrian Jacquet, and in the first round of the main draw he knocked out Marco Trungelliti 6-3, 7-5. His first tour-level win had come in March at the Miami Open against Aleksandar Kovacevic. In 2024 he won the Australian Open junior title, and his career-high ranking, No. 133, dates back to September 21.

For Rublev it was his first match of the tournament after a first-round bye. The Russian reached the Shanghai final in 2023, losing to Hubert Hurkacz, and in July he won Båstad by beating Luciano Darderi in the final.

Sakamoto won 77% of points behind his first serve and decided the match in the few points where the Russian had a chance to get back in. In the third round the Japanese faces Alex de Minaur.