India's tennis sensation Sumit Nagal created history after storming into the second round of Australian Open 2024's men's singles on Tuesday, January 16.
Three years back, Nagal had been unable to progress past the first round at Melbourne Park, having been defeated in straight sets by Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis. However, in a turnaround of fortunes this year, Nagal secured his first-ever entry into the second round of this hard-court event by overcoming 27-ranked Alexander Bublik with scores of 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (6-1).
Four months ago, 137-ranked Nagal disclosed that he had less than 900 euros in his bank account and was facing financial difficulties. Fast forward to January 16, the top-ranked Indian player turned heads by becoming the first Indian male tennis player in 35 years to defeat a seeded player in a Grand Slam. Back in 1989, India's Ramesh Krishnan shocked the then World No.1 and reigning champion Mats Wilander at the Australian Open to roll into second round. Nagal also became the first Indian since Somdev Devvarman to reach the second round of the Australian Open in men's singles. In 2013, Somdev had progressed past the first round by defeating Simone Bolelli.
Right from the start of the match, Nagal was on point, breaking Bublik's serve twice early on to establish a 3-1 lead in the first set. Bublik seemed off his game, committing a few double faults and unforced errors, which eased the way for Nagal. Regaining composure, Nagal demonstrated an impressive attacking game, including two aces, to secure a solid 5-3 lead. Although Bublik managed a brief comeback attempt, Nagal maintained his composure to win the set 6-4 and gain an early advantage in the match.
In the second set, Nagal's dominance was evident as he broke Bublik's serve right away. Even when faced with three break points, Nagal displayed remarkable tenacity, winning four consecutive points to take a 2-0 lead. Bublik's mounting frustration was evident when he smashed his racquet after Nagal extended his lead with another break to 4-1. Nagal continued his relentless pursuit, holding his serve to move up 5-2. Serving for the set, Nagal encountered a challenging final game, with Bublik saving three set points. However, Nagal remained undeterred, ultimately clinching the set 6-2 with a powerful winning shot.
In the third set, Bublik found his rhythm again. With more stable wind conditions, the Kazakh player appeared much calmer and started to methodically break down Nagal's strategy. The first half of the set saw no breaks of serve, resulting in a 3-3 tie. However, the dynamic shifted when Nagal, initially down 0-30 on Bublik's serve, fought back to take a 4-3 lead, edging closer to sealing the match.
Nagal then held his serve to extend his lead to 5-3. Yet, Bublik wasn't ready to concede, holding his serve and breaking Nagal's, pushing the set to a tie-breaker. In a set marked by unexpected turns, Nagal kept his composure during the crucial moments. Leading 5-1 in the tie-breaker, he faced a challenging situation, similar to earlier in the match, where he conceded three match points, leading to a nail-biting score of 6-5. Bublik had the chance to force a fourth set with his serve, but a critical double fault handed the straight-set victory to Nagal, allowing him to celebrate a significant milestone in his career.
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