Moselle Open: Injured Sumit Nagal Forced to Withdraw in Opening Round, Balaji exits

Sumit Nagal’s Moselle Open run came to a disappointing end as he was forced to withdraw from his first-round match against Frenchman Corentin Moutet.

The 27-year-old Indian tennis player initially held control, but an unfortunate injury led him to retire while trailing 5-7, 0-4 on Sunday.

The player, who reached the second round of the Australian Open earlier this year, had a promising start in the first set.

He broke Moutet’s serve and built a 5-2 lead, showcasing the powerful baseline play and resilience that have defined his recent form.

However, the match’s momentum quickly shifted as Moutet launched a comeback, winning nine consecutive games to claim the first set 7-5 and gain control in the second.

In the second set, Moutet broke Nagal’s serve twice to race to a 4-0 lead.

Unfortunately, Nagal’s physical discomfort became evident, leading him to withdraw before the conclusion of the set.

This outcome marks Moutet’s fourth victory over Nagal in their six-match history, including their last encounter at the Paris Olympics earlier this year.

Nagal, known for his fighting spirit and agility on the court, has shown promising performances in recent months, despite battling injuries.

His exit at the Moselle Open underscores the challenges he faces in maintaining physical form in a demanding international schedule.

India's second representative at the Moselle Open, N. Sriram Balaji along with his partner Guido Andreozzi also suffered a round of 16 exit after losing to Matwe Middlekoop and Jean-Julien.