The 2026 Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff in Chengdu has opened with promising results for Indian tennis, led by Sumit Nagal’s gritty three-set victory and Sidharth Rawat’s strong entry into the main draw.
With a coveted Australian Open wildcard on the line, every match carries significance—and India has started on the front foot.
Nagal Battles Through a Rusty Start
Sumit Nagal entered the Playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the men’s singles draw, placed in the first quarter alongside China’s Yunchanokete Bu, Ziljan Yang, and Minghui Zhang. Facing Zhang in the opening round, Nagal found himself in unfamiliar territory at the start.
Playing his first hard-court match since the Australian Open earlier this year, Nagal struggled with timing, rhythm, and depth in the opening set. Zhang, a top-300 junior and a clean ball striker, capitalised effectively. He moved the Indian around the court and forced errors, taking the opening set 6–2 and putting Nagal under early pressure.
But the match soon flipped.
After navigating what could have been a tricky situation, Nagal returned for the second set with significantly improved footwork and cleaner shot selection. His serve percentage climbed, his forehand found its pop again, and he started dictating both tempo and court position. The reward: a clinical 6–0 second set, the kind of statement that can reset a match mentally.
With the stream dropping during the third set, fans missed the live visuals, but Nagal maintained control, closing out the decider 6–2 to secure his place in the quarterfinals.
It wasn’t his smoothest win, but given the layoff from hard courts and the tricky nature of Zhang’s game it was the kind of grind Nagal needed.
Quarterfinal Challenge: Bu Yunchaokete or Ziljan Yang
Nagal now awaits the winner of the all-Chinese clash between top seed Bu Yunchaokete and Ziljan Yang. Both are dangerous in conditions like Chengdu, though Bu—seeded No. 1—is the obvious favourite.
Bu, who sits high in the ATP rankings among Asian players, is known for his physicality and consistency from the baseline. Yang, meanwhile, is an aggressive counterpuncher who troubles higher-ranked players when allowed rhythm.
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For Nagal, the task will be to avoid the slow start that cost him the opening set against Zhang. If he repeats the sharpness he found in the second and third sets, he will be in a strong position to push for a semifinal spot.
The quarterfinal will be a crucial moment in his campaign—with the Australian Open wildcard looming closer in sight.
Sidharth Rawat Makes the Main Draw
While Nagal advanced from the top half, India received more good news from the qualifying section, where Sidharth Rawat sealed his place in the main draw of the Playoffs.
Rawat, ranked ATP 664, produced a composed performance to beat China’s Jun Hao Luo (ATP 1892) in straight sets. Despite Luo entering as a wildcard, the gulf in experience showed as Rawat controlled the baseline rallies, stayed disciplined on serve, and avoided long patches of error streaks that have troubled him in the past.
His win earns him a place in the main draw where he faces one of the tournament’s toughest tests.
Round 1: A showdown with Coleman Wong
In the men’s singles draw, Rawat has been placed against second seed Coleman Wong of Hong Kong, currently world No. 149. Wong is the highest-ranked teenager from Asia, a powerful baseliner with a strong serve and an aggressive first-strike mindset. He has already won Challenger titles and is considered a rising force.
For Rawat, the match presents both an uphill challenge and a big opportunity. Wong thrives in faster conditions, but Rawat’s rally tolerance and counterpunching ability could create problems if he forces longer points. Rawat will need to serve well, stay tight on the backhand, and maintain a high first-serve percentage to stay competitive.
This will also be one of the marquee matches of the first round in Chengdu.
Indian Presence in the Doubles Draw
The men’s doubles draw features India’s N. Sriram Balaji & Ramkumar Ramanathan as the No. 3 seeds, placed in the top half with a bye in the opening round. They will face the winner of the Chinese-Chinese pairing of Jun Hao Luo/Hengzhou Wang in the quarterfinals.
In the bottom half, India’s Medhir Goyal partners Sidharth Rawat, where they face China’s Zijang Yang & Baoluo Zheng.
The presence of multiple Indian names across singles and doubles reflects the strong push the nation is making toward expanding Grand Slam representation.
A Strong Start for India in Chengdu
The Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff has historically served as a gateway for regional talent to breakthrough onto the Grand Slam stage. For India, this edition has begun with optimism:
- Sumit Nagal survives a shaky start to reach the quarterfinals.
- Sidharth Rawat books his main draw spot and prepares for a big battle against Wong.
- Indian doubles teams position themselves well for deep runs.
With the stakes high and the field competitive, the next few days in Chengdu will determine whether India can secure a much-needed entry into the men’s singles draw at the 2026 Australian Open.
For now, Nagal and Rawat remain very much in the mix carrying Indian hopes forward.
