On Tuesday, Chetan Bhagat found out the perils of having airing one's ignorance on social media.
On Tuesday, Chetan Bhagat found out the perils of having airing one's ignorance on social media.
Chetan Bhagat, excited over Sumit Nagal taking a set from GOAT Roger Federer tweeted: “Grew up being told that India has no chance in singles tennis at the global level. Just now @nagalsumit from my country won a set against The Roger Federer at the #USOpen. One day, India will win the Grand Slam too. Go Sumit Go!”
Of course, the tweet showed a shocking level of ignorance by one of India’s most-read authors given the nation has produced single legends like Vijay Amritraj (who was part of the infamous ABC trio – Vijay Amritraj, Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors).
Along with his brother Anand, Vijay led India to two Davis Cup finals – 1974 and 1987 – and forfeited against South Africa in 1974 due to Apartheid practiced in the African country.
Sadly, the Grand Slam title eluded Vijay, who had beaten Borg, McEnroe and Connors multiple times.
His brother Anand believed that it was because he was ‘unable to put it together for a week’.
Before him, Ramathan Krishnan was also seeded Number 4 in Wimbledon in 1962, and was a force to reckon with.
More recently, Somdev Devvarman, Yuki Bhambri and Prajnesh Gunneswaran have been ranked in the top 100.
In the women’s game, Sania Mirza reached a career-high of 27 before a wrist injury put paid to her singles career.
To claim that Sumit Nagal – who we hope goes from strength to strength after picking one set – set a precedent on the tennis court is displaying a shocking level of ignorance. As the old saying goes: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”
Nonsense. There was a time when the ABC of tennis was said to be Amritraj Borg Connors. We did very well in Davis Cup, thanks to A. Before him, Ramnathan Krishan was a Wimbledon semifinalist — twice. India always worked for a chance. https://t.co/JOFFhpEYMt
— naresh fernandes (@tajmahalfoxtrot) August 27, 2019
Leander Paes beat Goran Ivanisevic, Ramesh Krishnan beat Wilander while you were growing up... https://t.co/7aiPnbfwPz
— Arnab Ray (@greatbong) August 27, 2019
Lets start Indian Tennis History lesson for you. Today is Chapter 1 - A for Amritraj https://t.co/9gJ3FWf1RI
— Joy (@Joydas) August 27, 2019
Heard of Leander Paes? https://t.co/c6Rvp0f03O
— Parth MN (@parthpunter) August 27, 2019
When you were growing up, India had Vijay Amritraj and Ramesh Krishnan, who had won several tournaments, and reached Quarter Finals of multiple Grand Slams. https://t.co/odSdckpxAK
— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) August 27, 2019
Didn't know that you were growing up in 2000s. Krishnan.... Amritraj... And Paes? Haven't you heard of them? https://t.co/IaTqWtL53s
— Ashish Pandey (@OrthodoxLiberal) August 27, 2019
Your knowledge of history as well as Tennis is rather limited - as your knowledge per se is. In 1961 and 1962 an Indian - Ramanathan Krishnan - entered Semi Final of Wimbledon Tennis Championship. And no, it can’t be attributed to Modi, for he was only 10 years. https://t.co/JPX1FXC7VC
— RKHuria (@rkhuria) August 27, 2019
1. Federer praises Nagal
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Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal might have lost the first-round match of the US Open against Roger Federer, but his win in the first set is earning him accolades from all over with even the Swiss tennis maestro saying Nagal is going to have a solid career.
"I think he knows what he can bring. That's why I think he is going to have a very solid career. But, of course, it is not the game that comes out with the biggest surprises. It is really consistent. I think he did it very well tonight," US Open's official website quoted Federer as saying on Monday (local time).
"I think his game is based on being really consistent. He moves well, moves the ball around well. Sort of very much a clay-courter. That's also the surface he's played basically the entire year almost," he said.
2. 'He did very well'
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Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal might have lost the first-round match of the US Open against Roger Federer defeated 22-year-old Nagal 4-6. 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in the first round match.
"It is never easy to come out and play your best. Even though it's kind of what you live for, you dream about, playing on the big stage. So I think he did that very well," Federer said.
Nagal became the first Indian to defeat Federer in a set of a Grand Slam.
He became the fourth player to take the opening set against Federer at the US Open. Peter Wessels (Netherlands), Jose Acasuso (Argentina) and Frances Tiafoe (America) are the other players who have won their first set against the Swiss tennis star.
The first set was a closely fought affair as both Federer and Nagal went back and forth and at one stage the set was tied at 4-4. It was then that Nagal won games continuously and went on to grab the first set 6-4.
3. Federer comes out all guns blazing
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In the second set, Federer came out all guns blazing to take the second set 6-1.
The 38-year-old Federer was in no mood to slow down and he carried the momentum in the third set and wrapped it up 6-2.
Nagal, who currently holds the 190th position in the ATP rankings, was able to show grit in the fourth set as the scoreline was levelled at 2-2 at one stage, but Federer bounced back by playing an aggressive style of tennis, forcing Nagal to hang back on the court. In the end, the Swiss won the fourth set 6-4.
The Indian player had qualified for the US Open main draw on Friday.
He became the youngest Indian in 25 years to qualify for the main draw of a Grand Slam after defeating Brazil's Jaao Menezes 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
Nagal had earlier bagged the Wimbledon Boys' doubles title in 2015.
