India's Sumit Nagal bowed out of the men's singles tennis competition at the Paris Olympics 2024. The 26-year-old suffered a disappointing defeat against France's Corentin Moutet, losing in three sets, 2-6, 6-2, 5-7. With Nagal's exit, India's medal hopes in tennis now rest solely on the shoulders of the doubles pair of Rohan Bopanna and S Sriram Balaji.
Nagal's Olympic Hopes Dashed
In contrast to his 2021 performance, where he reached the second round, Nagal struggled to make an impact at the Paris Olympics. Despite a determined effort that lasted two hours and 28 minutes, he ultimately fell short against Moutet. The Frenchman now holds a 3-2 head-to-head record against Nagal. With this defeat, Nagal's Olympic journey came to an end, leaving India's medal hopes solely in the hands of the doubles pair.
Nagal Fights Back But Falls Short
Despite a dominant first set from Moutet, Nagal displayed resilience, clawing his way back to force a decider. The Indian secured an early break in the third set, positioning himself as the favorite to advance. However, Moutet proved to be a formidable opponent, ultimately turning the match in his favor.
Moutet Reverses Momentum
Moutet responded swiftly, breaking Nagal's serve to level the score at 2-2. The subsequent games were fiercely contested, with both players holding serve until Moutet secured a crucial break to lead 5-4. Nagal saved one match point but ultimately succumbed to Moutet's relentless pressure, committing a backhand error on the third match point. Moutet's aggressive playstyle was evident with his 34 winners compared to Nagal's 20. However, his 49 unforced errors and five double faults highlighted the closely contested nature of the match. Ultimately, converting four break points proved to be the decisive factor in Moutet's victory.
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