Chennai: the best Indian singles player Sumit Nagal On Sunday, he won his fifth singles title at Challenger level, beating Italian Luca Nardi in the final of the Chennai Open – a feat that propelled him into the top 100 for the first time in his career.
Nagal’s 6-1, 6-4 victory propelled him to 98th in the latest rankings released Monday.
Nagal has been in great form as he won the Chennai Open without dropping a set.
Nagal is the first Indian to make the singles top 100 since left-hander Prajnesh Gunneswaran was selected in 2019.
“I’m very emotional (today). You know, every tennis player’s dream is to be at least in the top 100. And like I said earlier, to win this match in front of the home crowd own country, I don’t I think I could have dreamed of a better place,” Nagal said after his victory.
“I don’t think there were any words, everyone was crying. Fewer words, more tears.
“I’m still very emotional. It was very difficult last year, being ranked 500, having surgery and not having financial support.
“A lot of ups and downs, you know. And I’m very happy that I found a way to attack every day and give myself a chance to be here,” he said.
Nagal also hoped that this victory would inspire budding athletes to pursue a career in singles tennis.
“We would like to see more people playing Grand Slams, but I hope this victory can push more people to pursue a career in singles as well,” he said.
It was a tremendous start to the 2024 season for the 26-year-old Indian, who qualified for the main draw of the Australian Open and knocked out top 30 player Alexander Bublik in the first round.
“I am happy with the way I control myself and the zone I am in. I think it is very important for a tennis player because the sport is very important.
“Once you step on the field, it’s just you. And if you’re not in the right mindset, or if you’re not seeing the right things, it’s very difficult to change the things on the ground,” he said.
