Japan's Rei Sakamoto, 17, became just the second Japanese player to win a junior boys' Grand Slam singles title on Saturday, topping Jan Kumstat of the Czech Republic in a tight three-set Australian Open final.
Sakamoto, the No. 4 seed in Melbourne, had dropped just a single set on his way to the final but needed to dig deep in a 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 comeback win over Kumstat. The 193-centimeter student at Aichi Honor High School was ranked 7th in the junior world rankings heading into the tournament.
"In Japan, people in the areas hit by a major earthquake on New Year's Day are still struggling," Sakamoto said. "What I can do as an athlete is bring positive news. I'm glad I won."