India’s highest-ranked men’s singles tennis player, Sumit Nagal, achieved a historic victory at the Australian Open 2024. The 137th-ranked Nagal delivered a stunning performance, defeating the 31st-seeded Alexander Bublik with a convincing 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 [7-5] in the first round.
Nagal’s triumph was a significant milestone for Indian tennis. Seizing victory over an opponent ranked 100 places above him, Nagal joined the elite club of Indian male players who have conquered seeded players in Grand Slam men’s singles matches. The last to achieve this feat was Ramesh Krishnan, who defeated the then World No.1 Mats Wilander in the 1989 Australian Open. Ramesh Krishnan, a stalwart in Indian tennis, achieved this remarkable feat four times in his career, with notable victories during the 1981 and 1987 US Open and the 1986 Wimbledon.
Furthermore, Sumit Nagal’s entry into the second round of the Australian Open 2024 solidifies his position as the first Indian male player since Somdev Devvarman to achieve this milestone in men’s singles. Devvarman’s historic win against Simone Bolelli in the first round in 2013 paved the way for Nagal to continue the legacy and inspire a new generation of tennis enthusiasts in India.
Bublik’s Setback: From Adelaide’s Semifinal High to Defeat Against Draper
Bublik, who held the eighth seed in his final Adelaide International match against Britain’s Jack Draper ahead of the inaugural Grand Slam event in Melbourne, faced a tough challenge. Unfortunately, the Kazakh was outplayed by the 22-year-old Draper, who secured a 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory as part of his preparations for the Australian Open. Despite arriving at the Australian Open as a seeded player following a notable semi-final finish at the Adelaide International, Bublik’s journey took an unexpected turn.
That's a big win for @nagalsumit 🇮🇳
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2024
He takes out No. 31 seed Bublik 6-4 6-2 7-6(5).#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/ldM9VE4X0M
In the lead-up to the Australian Open, Bublik had showcased his skills by defeating Daniel Evans and Lorenzo Musetti in Adelaide the previous week. Coached by Artem Suprunov, the Russian-born right-handed player had achieved his career-best rank of 25 the previous year. However, on this particular day, luck was not on his side.
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Nagal’s Commanding Performance: A Set-by-Set Breakdown of his Victory at the Australian Open
Sumit Nagal took control of the match from the very first serve, strategically breaking Bublik twice to secure an early lead in the opening set. Despite Bublik’s attempts to level the playing field, Nagal’s attacking tennis prowess and resilience prevailed, earning him the first set 6-4.
The second set witnessed Nagal’s continued dominance, breaking Bublik’s serve and maintaining a solid lead. Even as Bublik’s frustration surfaced with a racquet smash, Nagal stayed focused, securing the set 6-2. The third set saw a resurgence from Bublik, but Nagal’s strategic play and mental fortitude allowed him to reclaim control.
As the match approached its climax, Nagal faced a challenge in the tie-breaker, with Bublik attempting a comeback. The Indian player, however, maintained his composure, capitalizing on an untimely double fault from Bublik to clinch victory in straight sets.
Sumit Nagal Reflects on the Past Year
“The last 12-18 months have been (a mix of) good and bad. Bad in a way where I couldn’t play well, and good in a way that I learned from them. After the injury, I became more mature and much better. I understood tennis much better.”
“I knew the conditions were going to be tough and hot. No big server likes to serve in the wind, so I knew if I was going to return serves, it would annoy him. That’s what I did, and it worked. The first two sets were not the way he probably wanted. It’s tennis; sometimes you feel the ball, and sometimes you don’t. Today, I kept calm and played probably one of my best tennis matches so far,” Nagal told SonyLIV.
Addressing the physical toll of the tournament, Nagal admitted that the past few days, starting from the qualification round, had been more emotionally taxing than physically demanding.
“I’m feeling good. It’s been more emotional than physical. Every match, I’m getting better and better. I struggled to play two sets on Friday. Today, I played three. I haven’t been at this stage every game. The plan for tomorrow is to take it easy, take an ice bath, and get a massage. Pretty typical,” said Nagal.
