In his first main draw appearance at the French Open, India’s Sumit Nagal showcased his tenacity and skill but ultimately fell short against 18th seed Karen Khachanov. Despite the 6-2, 6-0, 7-6(5) scoreline, Nagal’s performance in the opening round on Monday highlighted his potential and fighting spirit.
Nagal, ranked 95th, faced a formidable opponent in Khachanov, who leveraged his power to dominate the match. The contest, lasting two hours and 27 minutes on Court 7, saw Nagal display flashes of brilliance but he struggled to maintain consistency against the Russian’s relentless game.
The match began on a challenging note for Nagal. He was broken early, trailing 1-2, despite saving three break points. An interruption due to rain, lasting an hour and a half, further complicated matters as the conditions became heavier, making it difficult for Nagal to generate top-spin and assert himself on his preferred surface.
Upon resumption, Khachanov took control, swiftly securing the first two sets. However, Nagal exhibited resilience in the third set. He broke back when Khachanov was serving for the match at 5-4, forcing a tie-breaker. The momentum briefly shifted in Nagal’s favor, but Khachanov regained his composure to close out the match.
While the final score may not fully reflect the competitive nature of the match, Nagal had several notable moments. His first serve percentage stood at 73%, outperforming Khachanov’s 64%. Additionally, Nagal earned nine break points but managed to convert only one, indicating a need for greater assertiveness in critical situations.
Despite the loss, Nagal’s performance at Roland Garros caps a memorable year. He achieved a career-high ranking of 80 in April and entered the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time without needing a wild card or qualifiers. Earlier in the year, Nagal made headlines by defeating Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik at the Australian Open, becoming the first Indian since 1989 to beat a seeded player at a Grand Slam.
Following his Australian Open success, Nagal won the ATP Challenger event in Chennai and reached the semi-finals in Bengaluru. His run included a first-round victory over 38th-ranked Matteo Arnaldi at Monte-Carlo and taking a set off 13th-ranked Holger Rune, securing his place in the Roland Garros main draw.
Reflecting on his journey, Nagal said, “It’s been nothing but a grind, we haven’t skipped any steps all season. We’ve got a bunch of great guys in this locker room, tough guys. Our coaching staff has been great, front office great and now we want to take the next step.”
Despite Nagal’s exit from the French Open, his ability to compete against higher-ranked players and perform under pressure bodes well for his future endeavours on the ATP Tour. As he continues to refine his game and gain more experience, fans can look forward to more promising performances from the young Indian tennis star.
