India’s top-ranked tennis player Sumit Nagal has secured a place in the men’s singles qualifying draw for the 2026 US Open. It came after Britain’s Jack Draper withdrew from the last Grand Slam of the year, which begins late in August.
Nagal, currently ranked around 239 in the ATP singles rankings, benefits from the late withdrawal and will be eager to showcase his skills on the tennis court. The 28-year-old last appeared in a Grand Slam event during the 2025 Wimbledon qualifying rounds and has since missed four consecutive majors.
Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal returns to Grand Slam action in US Open qualifiers
Nagal’s recent form received a boost from a title win at the Targu Mures Challenger (Intaro Open) in Romania in late June, where he defeated French qualifier Felix Balshaw in the final. On the other hand, Draper, who has struggled with a long-term bone bruise in his left arm, joins a growing list of high-profile absentees from the Flushing Meadows event, which also includes World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. However, No. 2 star CRarlos Alcaraz has returned to defend his title.
Qualifying for the US Open is scheduled to begin on 24 August. Nagal, a clay-court specialist who reached a career-high ranking of No. 68 in 2024, will hope to convert this opportunity into a main-draw appearance in New York. He will face the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor at Flushing Meadows on Monday.
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