Medvedev Cruises Past Teenage Upstart Sakamoto at ATP Miami

Defending champion Mensik, Nakashima also advance on Day 4 of tournament

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:37am

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Day 4 of the ATP Miami Open featured a mix of title defense pressure, seasoned veterans, and teenage upstarts. World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev easily dispatched 19-year-old Japanese wild card Rei Sakamoto in straight sets, while defending champion Tomas Mensik and American Brandon Nakashima also moved on to the next round.

Why it matters

The ATP Miami Open is one of the premier hard court tournaments on the men's tennis calendar, and the results on Day 4 highlighted the contrast between established stars like Medvedev and the rising young talent looking to make a name for themselves on the big stage.

The details

Medvedev, the 2026 Australian Open finalist, showed his class against Sakamoto, breaking the teenager's serve multiple times en route to a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 victory. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Tomas Mensik, the defending champion, defeated qualifier Walton in straight sets to keep his title defense on track. And in an all-American matchup, the in-form Brandon Nakashima got the better of veteran Marin Cilic in two tight sets.

  • Medvedev, Mensik, and Nakashima all won their third-round matches on March 21, 2026.
  • Sakamoto earned his first career ATP Tour victory in the opening round on March 20, 2026.

The players

Daniil Medvedev

A 27-year-old Russian tennis player who is currently ranked World No. 2 and has won multiple Grand Slam titles, including the 2023 US Open.

Rei Sakamoto

A 19-year-old Japanese tennis player who was making his main draw debut at an ATP Masters 1000 event.

Tomas Mensik

A 20-year-old Czech tennis player who is the defending champion at the ATP Miami Open after winning the title in 2025.

Brandon Nakashima

A 24-year-old American tennis player who has been putting together a strong season on the hard courts so far in 2026.

Marin Cilic

A 37-year-old Croatian tennis player who is a former Grand Slam champion and is still a formidable veteran on the ATP Tour.

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What they’re saying

“Rei Sakamoto is clearly a talent to watch, but facing Daniil Medvedev at this stage is an enormous ask. Medvedev's court craft, serve and ability to neutralize opponents should make this a routine afternoon for the Russian.”

— Ilemona Onekutu, Tennis Writer

What’s next

Medvedev will face the winner of the match between Jodar and Vukic in the fourth round, while Mensik and Nakashima will continue their title bids in the quarterfinals.

The takeaway

The ATP Miami Open is showcasing the contrast between the sport's established stars and the next generation of talent, with Medvedev's clinical victory over the teenage Sakamoto highlighting the gulf in experience and ability at the top level of men's tennis.