Sumit Nagal, the 22-year-old talented tennis player from the country, has made it to the main draw of the US Open.
Tennis fans in India are usually most excited about Fedal, a short term for the epic battles between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. On Tuesday morning, they'll get a match-up with a similar sound, but with an Indian touch.
Sumit Nagal, the 22-year-old talented tennis player from the country, has made it to the main draw of the US Open. And, to the Indian's fortune or misfortune, will face Swiss legend and the arguably the sport's GOAT, Federer, in the opening round in the opening night at the hallowed Arthur Ashe Stadium, US Open's centre court, on Tuesday morning IST.
The Jhajjar-born Nagal made this amazing feat possible by winning his third and final qualifying encounter in New York late on Friday night. Nagal, ranked world No. 190, registered a come-from-behind 5-7 6-4 6-3 win over Brazil's 210th-ranked Joao Menezes.
This will be Sumit's maiden Grand Slam appearance, becoming only the fifth Indian player to feature in the singles main draw of tennis' biggest stage in this decade after Somdev Devvarman, Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni and Prajnesh Gunneswaran.
"Pretty cool that after qualifying into the us open, @nagalsumit now plays Federer first round on Arthur Ashe ! Considering where he started the year, Coming back from injury , all the other crap , phenomenal work since then !" Devvarman tweeted on Saturday.
With India's top-ranked singles player, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, making a direct entry in the main draw, India will be represented by two players in a Grand Slam main draw for the first time since 1998, when Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi played in the Wimbledon.
Despite being struck down by injuries, Nagal's rise this year has been noteworthy. He started the year ranked outside the top 350, and broke into the top 200 last month with a string of impressive results in the Challenge circuit.
Last month, the youngster made a maiden entry in the main draw of an ATP 500 event, losing to the experienced Richard Gasquet in the first round of the ATP Hamburg Open.
N Zone
- 5 Sumit Nagal is the 5th Indian player to feature in the singles main draw of a Grand Slam in this decade after Somdev Devvarman, Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni and Prajnesh Gunneswaran
Did you know?
- India will have 2 players in the Grand Slam main draw for the first time since 1998 when Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi competed at the Wimbledon
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