Kei Nishikori vs. Rei Sakamoto Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest US Open Qualifiers Odds - Thursday, August 27th
Kei Nishikori is one victory away from extending his final Grand Slam into the US Open main draw when he faces fellow Japanese player Rei Sakamoto on Thursday, August 27. Nishikori has already cashed two consecutive qualifying moneyline bets this week, but his last obstacle may be the most intriguing of all as the veteran faces a young player who grew up idolizing him.
Peter Alexis - August 27, 2026, 12:35 PM EDT
4 Minute ReadKei Nishikori vs. Rei Sakamoto Prediction: Can Nishikori Continue Legacy Run, Qualify for US Open Main Draw Ahead of Retirement?
Nishikori and Sakamoto are scheduled for a 1:40 PM ET start on Stadium 17, with Sakamoto favored at -152 and Nishikori available at +125. The winner officially earns one of the final 16 spots in the US Open men's singles main draw.
Nishikori's farewell run has already survived two tests. He opened qualifying by beating Sebastian Ofner 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 before delivering a much cleaner performance Wednesday against 16-year-old Michael Antonius, winning 6-4, 6-4. The 36-year-old has now won four of five sets since arriving in New York.
Kei Nishikori vs. Rei Sakamoto Odds
- Moneyline: Nishikori (+125), Sakamoto (-150)
Kei Nishikori vs. Rei Sakamoto Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Thursday, August 27th, 2026
- Time: 1:40 PM ET
- Where to Watch: Tennis Channel
Click here for complete Kei Nishikori vs. Rei Sakamoto Odds
Kei Nishikori vs. Rei Sakamoto Prediction
This is the exact opportunity Nishikori came back for. The 2014 US Open finalist, who also reached the semifinals in 2016 and 2018, is retiring at the end of the season and needs one more victory to make his 11th main-draw appearance in New York. Every round this week has effectively carried career-ending Grand Slam stakes.
Sakamoto is a much more dangerous opponent than the sentimental storyline might suggest. The 20-year-old is 10th in the ATP Live Next Gen Race and reached the final qualifying round by beating Alexandre Muller 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday. He has now won four consecutive sets after also coming through his opener in straight sets.
The relationship between the two makes the matchup particularly fascinating. Sakamoto watched Nishikori's 2014 US Open final as an eight-year-old, later trained with him and even partnered alongside him in doubles in Tokyo. Nishikori has offered Sakamoto advice during his development, meaning the young Japanese prospect now has to eliminate one of his idols to reach the main draw himself.
Sakamoto is younger, ranked substantially higher and owns the bigger serve, which explains the -152 price. But Nishikori's first two matches have shown that his timing, return game and ability to redirect pace are still good enough to win at this level. More importantly, he has spent his entire career playing matches with exponentially more pressure than anything Sakamoto has experienced.
Kei Nishikori vs. Rei Sakamoto Best Bet
- Best Bet: Nishikori ML (+125) Check out the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
There is no guarantee the farewell story gets its perfect ending, but +125 is an appealing price for a former World No. 4 who is one win from extending his final Slam. Nishikori has already beaten two opponents this week and now has every reason to empty the tank. Back the veteran one more time to turn back the clock and earn his place in the field.
More Tennis Odds
Affiliate Disclosure.
We are not a gambling or betting operator, but we receive a commission from these companies when we advertise their brands and refer customers to them (affiliate marketing). We provide information, odds information and links to websites of these companies. Some of the information made available on our site may be positioned as a result of a commission paid to us by a third party. We do not take or place bets/transactions and any information on Our Products is provided for entertainment purposes only.
