(VIDEO) Roland Garros qualifier drama as Pedro Martinez challenges Rei Sakamoto to take it outside after tense post-match confrontation

Wednesday, 20 May 2026 at 08:54

The duel between Pedro Martinez Portero and Rei Sakamoto in French Open qualifying almost ended with both going at each other in a tense exchange after their first-round match. The Spaniard – 24th seed – showed all his anger towards his rival and even offered to ‘meet outside’ to settle their issues.

Martinez (No. 141) arrived as the favourite for the qualifying opener. The former top-40 player and experienced clay-court specialist faced 19-year-old Sakamoto (No. 152), the 2024 Roland Garros junior doubles runner-up. The Japanese player is still outside the top 150 and has yet to feature in a Grand Slam main draw or in a Masters 1000 main draw on clay.

The match was dominated by the Spaniard, who showed his greater adaptation to the surface to take the victory with 7 breaks from 12 opportunities, against only 4 breaks from Sakamoto, in a true battle of exchanged breaks. The Japanese player committed as many as 36 unforced errors – which ended up making the difference against only 9 from Martinez.

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However, the attention was stolen by the tense exchange at the end of the match, in which even the chair umpire had to intervene. After the handshake at the net – following the Spaniard’s 6-2, 7-5 victory – the experienced 29-year-old player could be seen repeatedly reproaching his rival, while Sakamoto tried to give explanations, but without paying the same attention as the heated Spaniard.

“You wanna go outside?” Martinez could be heard telling the young teenager at the end of the match, showing all his frustration after his debut in Paris.

The victory sends Martinez into the second round of qualifying, where he will face British player Arthur Fery – who comes from defeating Elias Ymer in his debut. The winner will play for the chance to reach the main draw against either Emilio Nava or Thiago Seyboth Wild.

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Casi llegan a las manos... 😳💥 El encontronazo entre Pedro Martínez y Rei Sakamoto tras el punto de partido que clasifica al español para la segunda ronda de la previa. #RolandGarros

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5:18 PM · May 19, 2026

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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