Kei Nishikori eliminated by Rei Sakamoto in US Open qualifying
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 29, 2026, 4:24 PM
Last updated Aug 29, 2026

Kei Nishikori's final match at the US Open concluded as he lost to countryman Rei Sakamoto 6-4, 7-6(3) in the third round of qualifying on August 29, 2026. Nishikori, who has struggled with injuries in recent years, expressed disappointment in his performance, noting that he was unable to play his best. The match signified a transition in Japanese tennis, with Sakamoto emerging as a rising player. Nishikori plans to retire after this season, leaving behind a legacy as one of Japan's most accomplished players.
- •Nishikori loses to Sakamoto in the US Open qualifying third round
- •Match score was 6-4, 7-6(3)
- •Nishikori to retire at the end of the season
- •Sakamoto progresses to face Aleksandar Vukic next
- •Nishikori was once ranked #4 in the world
- 4:24 PMYahoo Sports — Kei Nishikori Eliminated in Final US Open Match by Rei Sakamoto
"Kei Nishikori’s final appearance at Flushing Meadows ended this week, as the Japanese star fell 6-4, 7-6(3) to countryman Rei Sakamoto, ranked 157th, in the third round of US Open qualifying. Kei Nisihkori Falls to Sakamoto in US Open Qualifying “I couldn’t play my best today,” Nishikori said after the match. It’s a familiar refrain …
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