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A resurgent Sumit Nagal to face Roger Federer in his maiden Slam show
Sumit Nagal qualified for a Grand slam main draw to face 20-time Grand slam champion, Roger Federer at the US Open Tennis championship in the opening game.
It is a rare affair to witness a Grand slam campaign at a tender age of 22, and an exuberant Sumit Nagal, with no prior experience on the highest-tier of the tournament, has achieved what is no easy feat for a man his age. Sumit qualified for a Grand slam main draw after progressing through the US Open 2019 qualifying stage to face 20-time Grand slam champion, Roger Federer at the United States Open Tennis championship in the opening game on Tuesday.
The main draw Grand Slam tournament will so far be the biggest highlight in Sumit’s career graph. “It means a lot. Everyone dreams about this. I played well in qualifiers. Every match meant something. I had some history with all of them. It was a roller-coaster. Of course, I am super happy. I don’t even know what to say, “ said a jaunty Nagal, while speaking to the PTI. Â
Sumit, who is ranked number 190 in the world, advanced to the US Open after beating Joao Menezes of Brazil 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in New York. Sumit joins the Indian crop of tennis first-timers in Grand Slam singles, Somdev Devvarman, Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni, Prajnesh Gunneswaram, as he becomes the fifth Indian to feature in the prestigious tournament this decade. Interestingly enough, Sumit is the second Indian to qualify for the men’s singles main draw tournament after Prajnesh Gunneswaram, ranked 89 in the world, will face ATP Cincinnati Masters winner Daniil Medvedev in his first-round match.
In 2015, he became the sixth Indian player to claim a junior Grand Slam title. India is now set to feature two of its tennis players in the Grand Slam main draw for the first time since legends Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi competed at the Wimbledon in the year 1998. "Nagal has been unlucky with injuries and has worked very hard to get back to this level. Playing Roger at the US Open at night is every qualifier's dream and nightmare and I think this experience will both be a confidence booster and a career-defining moment for him," a jubilant Bhupathi told PTI when asked about Nagal's impending Grand Slam debut.
