One yr again on the 2024 Australian Open, Sumit Nagal hit the headlines for changing into the primary Indian man to beat a seeded opponent at a Grand Slam since 1989. His win over then world No 27 Alexander Bublik as a qualifier captured the flamboyant of many, given the on and off-court challenges he braved to get there.
Thus started what was a career-changing season; and a primary full one on the ATP Tour for the 27-year-old Indian who had usually been waylaid by harm. The consequence: a breakthrough run into the High 100 on the planet, a profession excessive rating of 68 – the fourth highest by an Indian man since 1973, two ATP Challenger titles, enjoying all 4 Grand Slams in a yr, first Indian ever to win an ATP Masters 1000 match on clay.
It could not seem to be a lot seen from a worldwide tennis lens. However for a success-starved Indian tennis viewers (particularly in singles), Nagal turned a logo of hope final January and for him to straight attain a second straight Australian Open as a high 100 participant is strong proof of enchancment and consistency.
As he heads into the Australian Open 2025 as world No 96, his objective is fairly easy: “I simply wish to keep wholesome, play the tennis I wish to play, and carry on bettering. That is the one factor I am at all times behind, I have to carry on bettering,” Nagal advised ESPN in December. For a participant who has misplaced just a few good years to bodily struggles and needed to make the tough alternative of hip surgical procedure, being injury-free and capable of play his pure sport is a vital objective.
It will likely be one other massive problem in Melbourne, as he has drawn world No. 26 Tomas Machac within the first spherical. Machac is a proficient, extremely rated participant with wins over Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in 2024 and the swift racquet abilities to counter Nagal’s fashion of play. Machac, who had a very good begin to the yr on the United Cup in Australia earlier than having to retire mid semifinal, is a troublesome opponent for certain. But when he is nonetheless recovering from the sickness that affected him final week, Nagal’s counter punching could have an opportunity within the Australian day time. If Nagal will get one other upset win, he might face Rilley Opelka who had an incredible begin to the season however needed to retire within the Brisbane remaining.
Nagal’s sport has improved since his final time right here and he understandably has extra match time beneath his belt. He accords a variety of significance to fixed enchancment. “You must carry on bettering, as a result of in tennis for those who do not enhance folks will go you very quick. My essential focus has at all times been to enhance as a result of in case you are enjoying good tennis, you may be there [in the top tier] and no person can take it away from you. No one has an ideal stroke in tennis. It does not exist, ? There’s at all times one thing you’ll be able to enhance in tennis.”
In Nagal’s case, the development means fine-tuning nearly all elements of the sport on the highest degree, given his relative inexperience. He has the massive strokes and explosive energy, however on the sooner laborious courts, like in Melbourne, he usually will get in hassle with serve and shut in web play.
The yr 2024 was his first, largely interrupted season and though he could not make inroads at different Majors as he did firstly, he is maintained a high 100 rank as soon as he entered it final February with a hard-court Challenger win at house in Chennai. That was a giant second for him. “There have been a variety of feelings concerned, as a result of that is the place the primary time I broke high 100, particularly for the way lengthy I wished to try this.” Taking part in within the high tier, and with the ability to play within the Grand Slam essential draw, is essential in tennis as a result of that is the place the sport is profitable. Nagal, who has been trustworthy about his monetary state of affairs previously, (bear in mind the viral 900 euros in my account quote), is in a very good area now. “In case you’re doing effectively, folks will assist,” he says succinctly.
He had a very good pre-season in Dubai, the place a bunch of high gamers had their pre-season, competed within the World Tennis League earlier than heading Down Beneath. He began this season with a first-round loss at a Challenger in Canberra however did effectively this week in Auckland the place he beat Alexander Klintcharov and the upper ranked Adrian Mannarino within the Open qualifiers. He misplaced within the first spherical to Alex Michelsen in a three-game marathon earlier than heading to Melbourne.
This tennis rollercoaster is one thing he needs to get pleasure from, particularly after on a regular basis he spent away throughout his hip surgical procedure, rehab and subsequent climb from sub-600 rankings. ‘It is a journey, clearly there’s going to be good and dangerous days, dangerous weeks, however you need to sort of get pleasure from each.”
Sumit Nagal will tackle Tomas Machac on Sunday at roughly 8:30 AM.