![\"Rei](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/sakamoto-2025-bh.jpg\")
<\/p>\n Australian Open
\n Five Challenger players to watch at the Australian Open<\/p>\n
Sakamoto, Jodar to meet in opening-round teenage clash<\/p>\n
January 17, 2026<\/p>\n
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Rich Storry\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Rei Sakamoto will make his first major main-draw appearance at the Australian Open.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n
From a #NextGenATP showdown in the opening round, to former college standouts and other rising talents, ATPTour.com highlights five ATP Challenger players to watch during the Australian Open<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rei Sakamoto<\/a> \nThe first Japanese teenager to win three Challenger titles, Sakamoto stormed through the Melbourne qualifying draw to make his first major main-draw appearance. He began with an emphatic 6-1, 6-2 win against former World No. 21 Daniel Evans<\/a> and built upon that momentum, not dropping a set to earn a milestone appearance Down Under. Sakamoto will face fellow 19-year-old Rafael Jodar<\/a> in the first round.<\/p>\n \nRafael Jodar<\/a> \nIn the second half of the 2025 season, Jodar won three Challenger titles in as many months en route to qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF<\/a>. On New Year\u2019s Eve, the 19-year-old announced that he was turning pro, forgoing his remaining eligibility at the University of Virginia, where he spent two seasons. He began this season with a run to the final at the Canberra Challenger, where he fell to 2025 Jeddah runner-up Alexander Blockx<\/a>. Jodar is at a career-high No. 150 in the PIF ATP Rankings.<\/p>\n You May Also Like: Five ATP Challenger players to watch in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \nLiam Draxl<\/a> \nDraxl was nearly out of qualifying when he faced a 3-6, 3-5 deficit against Mackenzie McDonald<\/a> in the final round. Two points from defeat at 3-5 in the second set, Draxl hammered a backhand pass to finish a thrilling exchange in which the American had an opportunity to put away an overhead. Draxl stormed back to win 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-2, securing his place in the main draw in dramatic fashion. He will start against Damir Dzumhur<\/a>.<\/p>\n \nRaphael Collignon<\/a> \nAt a career-high No. 72 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Collignon reached his second career tour-level quarter-final in Brisbane earlier this month. He is competing in the Australian Open<\/a> main draw for the first time. Collignon, whose father is a brain surgeon<\/a>, lifted two Challenger trophies in 2025 (Pau, Monza). <\/p>\n \nPatrick Kypson<\/a> \nCompeting in Melbourne for the second time (2024) and seeking his first major main-draw win, Kypson begins against Argentine Francisco Comesana<\/a>.<\/p>\n Slam debut incoming \ud83d\udd1c<\/p>\n Arthur Gea<\/a>, Rafael Jodar<\/a>, Rei Sakamoto<\/a>, Francesco Maestrelli<\/a>, Nicolai Budkov Kjaer<\/a>, Michael Zheng<\/a> and Liam Draxl<\/a> punch their ticket to the @AustralianOpen<\/a> main draw!#ATPChallenger<\/a> | #AusOpen<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VHsR4k90H9<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) January 15, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
The 19-year-old lifted the 2024 boys\u2019 singles crown in Melbourne, becoming the first Japanese player to win the junior title at the Australian Open<\/a>. Since then, the 6\u20194\u201d (193cm) teenager has made a splash on the ATP Challenger circuit, including a triumph last November on home soil at the Yokohama Challenger, his final tournament of 2025.<\/p>\n
It will be an entertaining opening-round clash between two emerging talents, Sakamoto and Jodar. Not only is the Spaniard competing in his first major main draw, this past week marked his first attempt at qualifying for Slam \u2014 mission accomplished. Jodar\u2019s Challenger results have been a key stepping stone to where he is today.<\/p>\n
The Canadian was one of two players (Emilio Nava<\/a>) to earn a season-leading 44 match wins at the Challenger level in 2025. Draxl, 24, won on the hard courts of Winnipeg in July and reached six additional finals to cap his career-best year. Now, the former University of Kentucky standout turns his attention to his first major main-draw appearance.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old will look to relive his memories from last year\u2019s US Open<\/a>, where he reached the third round of a Slam for the first time, having defeated 12th seed Casper Ruud<\/a> in a five-set, three-hour, 30-minute battle along the way. The Belgian faces a tough test in fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti<\/a> in his Melbourne opener.<\/p>\n
A seven-time Challenger champion, Kypson was among a six-way tie for the most titles (4) at that level in 2025. The 26-year-old earned a spot in the main draw by winning the USTA\u2019s Australian Open<\/a> Wild Card Challenge last November, in large part helped by his triumphs at the Sioux Falls and Helsinki Challengers.<\/p>\n