The All India Tennis Association (AITA) stirred controversy on Thursday by accusing India’s top singles tennis player, Sumit Nagal, of demanding an annual fee of $50,000 (approximately ₹45 lakh) to participate in Davis Cup matches for the country. 

Nagal, who recently opted out of India’s Davis Cup tie against Sweden due to a back injury, defended his stance, stating that compensation for athletes is standard practice in professional sports. 

The timing of the accusation has drawn attention, as Nagal had withdrawn from the US Open men’s doubles competition in August due to the same back strain. With Nagal absent, India’s Davis Cup team, lacking a specialist singles player, suffered a crushing 0-4 defeat to Sweden in the World Group I tie earlier this month. Without their top players, India fielded a team mostly comprising doubles players and debutants, resulting in a performance where they failed to win a single set.

AITA, displeased with the absence of key players like Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, and Sasikumar Mukund, openly expressed its frustration on Tuesday. “Why should a player be asking for money to play for the country? This is a big question,” said AITA secretary general Anil Dhupar. He confirmed that Nagal had requested the annual fee and made it clear that without payment, he would not participate in Davis Cup matches.

India only competes in two Davis Cup ties per year, in February and September, both of which are part of the World Group I schedule. Dhupar noted that players receive compensation from the AITA, with prize money from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) being divided among the team. AITA receives around ₹30 lakh per World Group I tie, of which 70 percent is distributed among the players, and the remaining 30 percent is allocated for administrative costs.

In response to the accusations, Nagal took to social media to defend himself. He acknowledged the AITA’s claims but stressed that his request for compensation was not unreasonable. 

“It is standard practice in professional sports for athletes to be compensated for their participation in events, even when representing their country. This is not about personal gain,” Nagal wrote, adding that discussions with AITA and the Davis Cup captain were confidential and that he would not comment further on the issue.

The timing of Nagal’s withdrawal from the Davis Cup, followed by his entry into the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open, only fueled AITA’s anger. While Nagal did eventually withdraw from the Hangzhou tournament, the decision came just days after AITA publicly criticized him. The association suggested that Nagal had “miraculously recovered” from his injury, casting doubt on the legitimacy of his initial withdrawal from the Davis Cup.

Nagal’s criticism of AITA on social media further escalated tensions. He accused some officials of using the Davis Cup as an excuse for personal junkets, rather than focusing on the players’ needs. The back-and-forth between Nagal and AITA raises questions about the handling of athlete compensation and support in Indian tennis, as well as the growing complexities of balancing national duty with professional careers.

The controversy now lies in the court of public opinion, with both AITA and Nagal presenting their sides of the story.