Tennis

Sumit Nagal, India's rising tennis star, has made history by becoming the first Indian man to qualify for the main draw at the French Open since 2019. Nagal's journey to Roland Garros has been marked by remarkable achievements, including his stunning victory over Alexander Bublik at the Australian Open earlier this year.Nagal's triumph in Melbourne not only made him the first Indian man to win a main draw match at the Australian Open in 11 years but also broke a 35-year-old record by defeating a seeded player in the singles draw of a grand slam. This feat propelled him to a career-best ranking of No. 80 and earned him direct entry to the French Open.Nagal's preparation for Roland Garros has been impressive, with strong performances on clay at the Monte Carlo Masters. He defeated Matteo Arnaldi and took a set off world No. 7 Holger Rune before succumbing to a heartbreaking loss.Despite facing a tough opening match against World No. 18 Karen Khachanov, Nagal's supporters remain optimistic about his chances. Former India No. 1 Somdev Devvarman believes that Nagal has the potential to pull off an upset."It's a huge challenge, but I'd like to see a fight. I think Sumit has it in him," said Devvarman. "If he plays well, really well, he'll give himself a chance."Nagal's success has not been limited to the French Open. He has also secured a main-draw appearance at the prestigious Wimbledon Championships, becoming the first Indian man to feature in the singles event in five years.However, Devvarman cautions that Nagal still has time before he can start regularly winning main-draw matches at grand slams. "It'll take a little bit of time," he said. "But over the course of his career, if he gets 20 main draws or 25, that would be a good place to begin."Nagal's journey is a testament to his skill, determination, and the growing strength of Indian tennis. As he takes on the world's best at Roland Garros, the nation will be cheering him on, hoping that he can continue to make history.

Sumit Nagal, India's top-ranked men's singles tennis player, has secured a spot in the main draw of the prestigious Wimbledon Championship. This marks a significant milestone for Indian tennis, as Nagal becomes the first Indian in five years to qualify for the main draw of the men's singles event at Wimbledon.Nagal's qualification comes after a string of impressive performances on the ATP Challenger Tour. He recently reached the semifinals of the Challenger tournament in Ostrava, Czech Republic, and the quarterfinals of the Challenger tournament in Heilbronn, Germany.Nagal's journey to Wimbledon has been marked by determination and perseverance. He has been working tirelessly to improve his game and has been training with some of the best players in the world, including Novak Djokovic.Nagal's qualification for Wimbledon is a testament to his hard work and dedication. It is also a source of inspiration for aspiring tennis players in India and around the world.In addition to Wimbledon, Nagal is also preparing for the upcoming French Open. He recently trained with Djokovic in Paris in preparation for the Grand Slam event.Nagal's performance at Wimbledon and the French Open will be closely watched by tennis fans in India and around the world. He has the potential to make a deep run in both tournaments and continue to raise the profile of Indian tennis.

Rithvik Bollipalli and Niki Poonacha, the unseeded Indian duo, have advanced to the doubles final of the $164,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Bengaluru. They defeated Anirudh Chandrasekar and Hans Verdugo 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals.Bollipalli and Poonacha displayed impressive teamwork and court coverage throughout the match. They broke their opponents' serve twice in the first set and once in the second set, while holding their own serve comfortably. Their strong net play and aggressive returns proved too much for Chandrasekar and Verdugo to handle.In the title round, Bollipalli and Poonacha will face top seeds Luke Johnson and Skander Mansouri. Johnson and Mansouri have been in dominant form throughout the tournament, dropping only one set en route to the final.Meanwhile, in the women's doubles event of the $40,000 ITF tournament in Shenzhen, China, Prarthana Thombare and Arianne Hartono of the Netherlands emerged victorious. They defeated the Chinese pair of Jiaqi Kang and Xinyu Wang 6-4, 6-4 in the final.Thombare, an experienced Indian doubles specialist, added another title to her impressive resume. This was her 28th career doubles title, a testament to her consistency and skill on the court.In other results, Bekhan Atlangeriev defeated Karan Singh 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals of the $15,000 ITF men's tournament in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Atlangeriev will face the winner of the other semifinal between Denis Yevseyev and Evgenii Tiurnev in the final.

Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal has achieved a new career-high men's singles ranking of 80 in the latest ATP Rankings released on Monday. This remarkable feat comes on the heels of his impressive performance at the Monte Carlo Masters, where he became the first Indian to win an ATP Masters 1000 match on clay since the series' inception in 1990.Nagal's journey to the Monte Carlo Masters began with victories over Italy's Flavio Cobolli and Argentina's Facundo Diaz Acosta in the qualifying rounds. He then made history by defeating World No. 38 Matteo Arnald of Italy in the opening round of the main draw, becoming only the third Indian to compete in the main draw of a Masters event on clay.Despite a second-round loss to seventh-seeded Holger Rune, Nagal's performance at the Monte Carlo Masters has propelled him up 13 spots in the ATP Rankings. He is now the seventh highest-ranked Indian in men's singles, joining an illustrious group that includes Vijay Amritraj, Ramesh Krishnan, Somdev Devvarman, Sashi Menon, Anand Amritraj, and Prajnesh Gunneswaran.Nagal's rise in the rankings is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has consistently performed well on the ATP Challenger Tour, winning multiple titles and reaching several finals. His success at the Monte Carlo Masters has further solidified his status as one of India's most promising tennis players.Meanwhile, Rohan Bopanna has lost the No. 1 spot in the men's doubles ranking to his Australian partner, Matthew Ebden, after the duo was eliminated in the Round of 16 of the Monte Carlo Masters. Bopanna and Ebden had held the top spot for several weeks, but their recent loss has allowed Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski to reclaim the No. 1 ranking.Despite the setback, Bopanna remains one of the most successful doubles players in the world. He has won 23 ATP doubles titles, including two Grand Slams, and has reached the finals of all four Grand Slams. He is also a former World No. 3 in doubles.

Sumit Nagal's recent surge in the tennis world has sparked a renewed interest in Indian men's singles tennis. After years of relative obscurity, Nagal has broken into the coveted ATP top-100, becoming the first Indian to achieve this feat in over a decade.Nagal's rise has been marked by a series of impressive performances. In 2023, he defeated two top-40 players, including Alexander Bublik in the first round of the Australian Open. He also qualified for two ATP Masters events, Indian Wells and Monte Carlo, and won a round in the latter, overcoming World No. 38 Matteo Arnaldi.Nagal's success has been attributed to several factors. Firstly, he has worked tirelessly on his fitness, which has improved his serve and made him more aggressive from the baseline. Secondly, he has developed a more consistent game, reducing his unforced errors and improving his return game.However, Nagal's journey has not been without its challenges. He has battled injuries and financial constraints in the past. In 2022, he lost more matches than he won. But through it all, he has remained determined to succeed.Nagal's rise has not only been a personal triumph but also a boost for Indian tennis. It has inspired a new generation of players and rekindled the passion for the sport in the country. However, Nagal is aware of the challenges that lie ahead. He knows that maintaining his ranking will require consistent performances and continued improvement.With his newfound success, Nagal has become a role model for aspiring tennis players in India. He has shown that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. His journey is a testament to the resilience and potential of Indian tennis.

Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal put up a valiant fight against world number seven Holger Rune at the Monte Carlo Masters, taking a set off the Danish prodigy before ultimately falling in the rain-hit second round.Nagal, who had already made history by becoming the first Indian to win a singles main draw match at a Masters event on clay, continued his impressive run by threatening to spoil Rune's party. After losing the first set 3-6, Nagal rallied back to take the second set 6-3, showcasing his grit and determination.However, Rune proved too strong in the final set, breaking Nagal's serve twice to seal the match 2-6. Despite the defeat, Nagal's performance was a testament to his growing stature on the ATP Tour.The 26-year-old Indian had earlier stunned Italian Matteo Arnaldi in the first round, winning 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. He also defeated eighth-seeded Flavio Cobolli and third-seeded Facundo Diaz Acosto in the qualifiers to reach the main draw.Nagal's success at the Monte Carlo Masters follows his memorable performance at the 2019 US Open, where he took a set off the legendary Roger Federer. His recent achievements highlight his potential as a rising star in the world of tennis.

Sumit Nagal's BNP Paribas Open campaign came to an abrupt end in the opening round, as he succumbed to a straight-set defeat against Canada's Milos Raonic. The Indian tennis star, who entered the main draw as a "lucky loser" following Rafael Nadal's withdrawal, was unable to match the power and precision of his opponent.Nagal, ranked 101st in the ATP charts, struggled to find his rhythm against the experienced Raonic, who converted three of the 12 break points he earned. Nagal, on the other hand, failed to capitalize on the two break points he had. The match lasted one hour and 28 minutes, with Raonic dominating from start to finish.Nagal's main draw appearance was a result of Nadal's last-minute withdrawal due to lack of readiness. The Spaniard has been battling injury issues and underwent hip surgery last season. Nagal had initially lost in the second round of the qualifying tournament but was given a lifeline when Nadal pulled out.Despite the disappointing result, Nagal's performance in recent months has been encouraging. He made a splash in January by reaching the second round of the Australian Open, a feat that helped him break into the top-100 of the ATP rankings.If Nagal can maintain his current form and return to the top-100, he will have a chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The Indian tennis star has shown great potential and determination, and he will be hoping to build on his recent successes in the coming months.

The Maha Urja $25,000 ITF women's tennis tournament, set to commence on Tuesday at the MSLTA Academy in Ramnagar, will witness the participation of Sahaja Yamalapalli as the sole Indian seed. Ranked fifth, Yamalapalli will face Vaidehi Chaudhari in her opening match. She is placed in the third quarter alongside fourth seed Diana Marcinkevica.In the absence of India's top player Ankita Raina, who is competing in the Petroleum tennis tournament in Delhi, the Indian challenge will be led by national champion Shrivalli Bhamidipaty. Bhamidipaty will begin her campaign against qualifier Anastasia Zolotareva. Zeel Desai will take on Akiko Omae of Japan in her first-round match.Akanksha Nitture displayed remarkable resilience in the qualifying rounds, saving six match points in the super tie-break to defeat Joel Nichole 14-12. Her reward is a first-round encounter with top seed Irina Maria Bara of Romania.Other Indian players who have qualified for the main draw include Anjali Rathi, Vaishnavi Adkar, Humera Baharmus, and Soha Sadiq. Wild cards have been awarded to Sowjanya Bavisetti, Maithili Mothe, Sonall Patil, and Sejal Bhutada.The tournament will provide a stern test for the Indian players, who will face a strong contingent of foreign competitors. The seedings for the tournament are as follows:1. Irina Maria Bara (Rou)2. Dalila Jakupovic (Slo)3. Justina Mikulskyte (Ltu)4. Diana Marcinkevica (Lat)5. Sahaja Yamalapalli6. Fanny Ostlund (Swe)7. Miriana Tona (Ita)8. Thasaporn Naklo (Tha)