Rei Sakamoto punched his ticket to the US Open main draw by upsetting Kei Nishikori in qualifying Friday. The Japanese player won 6-4, 7-6(3) in a straight-sets victory that sends him through to the tournament proper. Nishikori, a former US Open finalist and one of the biggest names in the qualifying draw, couldn't get past Sakamoto's play. The tiebreak in the second set proved decisive, with Sakamoto controlling it from the start. This is a significant breakthrough for Sakamoto in his bid to establish himself at tennis's highest level. He'll now face the elite players in the main draw at Flushing Meadows.