It’s still April, but Sumit Nagal is having a remarkable year so far. In January, Nagal caused a stir by defeating Alexander Bublik, advancing to the second round of the Australian Open for the first time after navigating the qualifying rounds.
Then, in February, he entered the Top 100 rankings after winning an ATP Challenger event in Chennai, held on his home turf.
Breaking New Ground: Nagal’s Historic Triumph at Monte Carlo
During the weekend, Nagal achieved the distinction of being the first Indian man to qualify for the Monte Carlo Masters since 1982. Then, on Monday, the 26-year-old further solidified this achievement by becoming the first player from India to win a main-draw match at this esteemed event in the Open Era, as reported by the ATP.
Nagal staged a comeback to defeat Matteo Arnaldi with a score of 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, bouncing back from relinquishing an early break advantage in the final set to ultimately secure victory against the Italian, marking his first Masters 1000 match win. Notably, his triumph also marks the first victory by an Indian man at any clay-court Masters event since the inception of this level by the men’s tour in 1990.
“I didn’t take the chances that I had in the first set, he was the better player. But the last two sets, I have nothing to complain (about). Very, very good quality from me,” Nagal reflected with Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj.”
There's just Sumit about Nagal on clay 🧱
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 8, 2024
History for @nagalsumit as he becomes the first-ever male Indian singles player to win a Masters 1000 match on clay!#RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/zJGfMunJlN
“I started playing tennis on clay when I was eight, nine years old. Didn’t get much clay when I moved to Canada but I’ve been living in Germany for the past 10 years. Somehow I fell in love with clay. For me, if I’m moving well, it gives me extra confidence. I feel like clay gives me that.”
Today, Nagal is competing with a career-high ranking of No. 93. In 2023, the resident of New Delhi faced challenges, dropping to as low as No. 509 after undergoing hip surgery and encountering financial difficulties, disclosing that he had only 900 euros in his bank account as of September that year. During this same tournament week last year, he held the No. 370 position and was eliminated in the first round of qualifying at the Split Challenger.
In the upcoming second round, Nagal will pursue what could be the most significant victory of his career as he faces seventh seed Holger Rune. The Danish player was the runner-up to Andrey Rublev at this event last year. Nagal has a lifetime record of 0-4 against Top 10 opponents, with Rune being one of his previous adversaries, having lost to him in a Davis Cup rubber 14 months ago.
Who is Sumit Nagal, The Indian Tennis Standout Rewriting History At The Monte Carlo Tournament?
Continuing the legacy of renowned figures like Vijay Amritraj, Leander Paes, and Sania Mirza, Nagal joins the ranks as the latest representative from India on the global tennis stage.
But who is Nagal, the player gearing up to face top 10 contender Holger Rune in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters?
Early Life
Born in Jhajjar, Haryana, in August 1997, Nagal hails from a humble background. His father, Suresh, works as a schoolteacher, while his mother, Krishna Devi, is a homemaker.
Nagal’s Journey in Tennis
Nagal discovered his passion for tennis at the age of eight. Despite his young age, his talent shone brightly. Just two years into his journey with the sport, he caught the attention of Indian tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi, who invited him to join his academy.
From 2008 to 2010, Nagal honed his skills at Bhupathi’s academy in Bengaluru. However, when the academy ceased operations, Nagal relocated to Toronto, Canada, to pursue his tennis aspirations.
Junior Success
Under the guidance of coach Bobby Mahal in Canada, Nagal’s tennis career gained traction during his junior years in 2015.
While early Futures titles came in India at the outset of that year, it was his performance on the Grand Slam stage that garnered significant attention.
Partnering with Vietnamese player Lý Hoàng Nam, he clinched the boys’ doubles title at Wimbledon, becoming only the sixth Indian to secure a junior Grand Slam championship.
Following this triumph, Nagal continued to excel in both singles and doubles at the Futures level before making his debut for the India Davis Cup team in 2016.
Challenger Stalwart
Nagal has been a consistent presence on the Challenger Tour for almost a decade, initially struggling to make a mark on the ATP Tour but establishing himself as a formidable competitor on the ATP Challenger circuit.
After securing nine Futures-level titles, Nagal captured his first Challenger-level tournament victory by defeating Britain’s Jay Clarke in Bangalore in November 2017.
He has since claimed five Challenger titles, experiencing a surge in success in recent months. Three of his five titles have been secured since the beginning of 2023, including a victory in Chennai this season, while he has reached the finals on two additional occasions.
US Open and Olympic Milestones
A significant breakthrough occurred at the 2019 US Open, where Nagal navigated through the qualifying rounds to reach his first Grand Slam main draw. Despite a commendable performance, he fell to the legendary Roger Federer in four sets.
The following year, during the unique circumstances of the Covid-affected tournament, Nagal earned direct entry into the US Open and secured his first Grand Slam match win by defeating Bradley Klahn before succumbing to eventual champion Dominic Thiem.
Although his progress was hindered by injuries in the subsequent years, Nagal made history at the Tokyo Olympics by becoming the first Indian man since 1996 to win a singles match, defeating Denis Istomin.
2024: Recent Rise, Monte Carlo History
In January, Nagal qualified for the Australian Open for the second time in his career, achieving a remarkable victory over the 31st seed Alexander Bublik and becoming the first Indian man in 35 years to defeat a seeded player at a Grand Slam event.
This success, coupled with his Challenger victory in Chennai, propelled him into the top 100 in the ATP Rankings after being ranked as low as 506th the previous year due to injury.
Nagal’s momentum continued at the Monte Carlo Masters this week, as he progressed from the qualifying rounds to become the first Indian in 42 years to reach the main draw.
Furthermore, his victory over Matteo Arnaldi in the opening round marked a historic moment, as he became the first Indian player ever to win a Masters 1000 match on clay.
Although he faces a formidable challenge against 2023 runner-up Rune in the upcoming match, Nagal’s emergence as India’s next tennis star appears imminent.
