File image of India’s Sumit Nagal, who surprised world quantity 27 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in straight units to enter the Australian Open second spherical for the primary time, on January 16, 2024
| Photograph Credit score: PTI
Indian tennis ace Sumit Nagal surprised world quantity 27 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in straight units to enter the Australian Open second spherical for the primary time in his profession right here on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old Nagal, who made it to the principle draw by means of the qualifiers, beat thirty first seed Bublik 6-4 6-2 7-6(7-5) in a gruelling match that lasted two hours and 38 minutes.
Nagal’s win on Tuesday was the primary time in 35 years that an Indian beat a seeded participant in a Grand Slam.
The final time it occurred was again in 1989 when Ramesh Krishnan gained over Mats Wilander, the then world primary and defending champion on the Australian Open.
The win additionally ensured Nagal’s first ever development to the second spherical of the season’s first Grand Slam. In 2021, he had misplaced 2-6, 5-7, 3-6 to Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis within the opening spherical.
The world quantity 137 Indian will likely be taking part in within the second spherical of a Grand Slam for the second time in his profession.
Within the 2020 US Open, Nagal had misplaced to second seed and eventual champion Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 within the second spherical.
Nagal was off to a formidable begin as he broke Bublik within the first sport of the match however he additionally failed to carry on to his personal serve subsequent because the scoreline learn 1-1.
The Indian then broke his opponent’s serve twice to take the opening set 6-4 in 42 minutes.
Nagal performed even higher within the second set as he broke serve of his opponent twice whereas holding his personal all by means of to win 6-2 in 43 minutes.
Within the third set, each the gamers held their serve until the seventh sport when Nagal broke his opponent to take a 4-3 lead. He then cruised forward at 5-3.
The Indian then served for the match at 5-4 however failed to carry. The third set went into the tie-breaker with Nagal ultimately successful 7-5.
Nagal had made it to the principle draw with a 6-4 6-4 win over Slovakia’s Alex Molcan within the match’s qualifying ultimate on Friday.
Nagal made his Slam debut within the 2019 US Open towards the long-lasting Roger Federer. He took a set off the Swiss big however misplaced the match 6-4, 1-6, 2-6, 4-6 ultimately.
Within the first spherical of the 2020 US Open, Nagal had overwhelmed American Bradley Klahn 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to turn out to be the primary Indian to win a Grand Slam singles match after Somdev Devvarman (2013).
