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 typically been waylaid by damage. The end result: a breakthrough run into the Prime 100 on the planet, a profession excessive rating of 68 – the fourth highest by an Indian man since 1973, two ATP Challenger titles, taking part in all 4 Grand Slams in a yr, first Indian ever to win an ATP Masters 1000 match on clay.
It could not look like a lot seen from a world tennis lens. However for a success-starved Indian tennis viewers (particularly in singles), Nagal turned an emblem of hope final January and for him to straight attain a second straight Australian Open as a prime 100 participant is strong proof of enchancment and consistency.
As he heads into the Australian Open 2025 as world No 96, his purpose is reasonably easy: “I simply need to keep wholesome, play the tennis I need to play, and carry on bettering. That is the one factor I am all the time behind, I have to carry on bettering,” Nagal advised ESPN in December. For a participant who has misplaced a couple of good years to bodily struggles and needed to make the troublesome alternative of hip surgical procedure, being injury-free and capable of play his pure recreation is a vital purpose.
It is going to be one other huge 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 expertise to counter Nagal’s fashion of play. Machac, who had begin to the yr on the United Cup in Australia earlier than having to retire mid semifinal, is a troublesome opponent for positive. 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 amazing begin to the season however needed to retire within the Brisbane closing.
Nagal’s recreation has improved since his final time right here and he understandably has extra match time below his belt. He accords plenty of significance to fixed enchancment. “It’s important to carry on bettering, as a result of in tennis should you do not enhance individuals will move you very quick. My most important focus has all the time been to enhance as a result of if you’re taking part in good tennis, you will be there [in the top tier] and no one can take it away from you. No one has an ideal stroke in tennis. It would not exist, you realize? There’s all the time one thing you may enhance in tennis.”
In Nagal’s case, the development means fine-tuning nearly all features of the sport on the highest degree, given his relative inexperience. He has the large strokes and explosive energy, however on the sooner laborious courts, like in Melbourne, he typically will get in bother with serve and shut in internet 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 prime 100 rank as soon as he entered it final February with a hard-court Challenger win at dwelling in Chennai. That was a giant second for him. “There have been plenty of feelings concerned, as a result of that is the place the primary time I broke prime 100, particularly for the way lengthy I wished to try this.” Taking part in within the prime tier, and having the ability to play within the Grand Slam most important draw, is essential in tennis as a result of that is the place the sport is profitable. Nagal, who has been sincere about his monetary state of affairs previously, (bear in mind the viral 900 euros in my account quote), is in area now. “For those who’re doing properly, individuals will assist,” he says succinctly.
He had pre-season in Dubai, the place a bunch of prime gamers had their pre-season, competed within the World Tennis League earlier than heading Down Below. He began this season with a first-round loss at a Challenger in Canberra however did properly 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 take pleasure in, 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 must type of take pleasure in each.”
Sumit Nagal will tackle Tomas Machac on Sunday at roughly 8:30 AM.