Indian No. 1 Sumit Nagal, ranked 144 in the ATP rankings, suffered a frustrating setback at the ATP Challenger 100 in Monza, Italy, as he was forced to retire in the opening round of the main draw against Austria’s Filip Misolic (ATP 195).
The match ended with the scoreboard reading 6-2, 1-0 in favor of Misolic, who now advances to face Federico Coria in the second round.
For Nagal, who had built considerable momentum in the qualifiers with a pair of gritty wins, this was a bitter end — especially given the timing and the manner of the exit.
Back Issues Return to Haunt Nagal
The Indian had shown visible signs of discomfort throughout the match, especially toward the end of the first set. After going up 2-1 early on, Nagal lost four consecutive games, struggling with both movement and service rhythm.
His first serve dropped in pace, and he was clearly protecting his back on directional movement and follow-throughs.
By the end of the first set, Nagal was barely walking between points. It became apparent that he wasn’t going to be able to continue for long. After getting broken early in the second set and going down 0-1, he decided to pull the plug, likely to avoid aggravating the issue further.
The injury concern isn’t new. He had previously dealt with back problems, including during the clay swing last season. That same issue appears to have flared up again — worrying news as the European clay court season gains pace.
A Promising Qualifying Run
The retirement was all the more disappointing because Nagal had fought so hard to make it to the main draw.
After narrowly missing out on the Monte Carlo Masters qualifying draw, Nagal shifted gears quickly and signed up for the Monza Challenger, starting from the qualifying rounds. It wasn’t the path he had hoped for, but he made the most of it — at least initially.
In the first qualifying round, Nagal took on Ergi Kirkin (ATP 313) from Turkey. It turned out to be a three-hour marathon, where the Indian had to dig deep. From a set and 1-4 down, Nagal rallied impressively to win 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-2, showcasing his hallmark defensive consistency, court coverage, and mental toughness.
He followed that up with a dominant performance against local wild card Federico Iannaccone (ATP 485) in the final round of qualifying. Nagal was clinical, winning 6-4, 6-2, and securing his place in the main draw with a confidence-boosting result.
A Clash of Styles: Misolic vs. Nagal
The matchup against Filip Misolic had promised to be an intriguing clash of styles.
Misolic, a 22-year-old from Graz, Austria, has made a steady rise in 2024. Starting the year ranked outside the top 300, he’s now on the cusp of the top 150, thanks to consistent results, including a quarterfinal finish in Bucharest, where he lost to eventual champion Flavio Cobolli.
His game is built around sharp net play, good touch volleys, and short, aggressive points. A classic clay-court attacking style, though he isn’t afraid to come forward frequently and mix it up.
Nagal, on the other hand, thrives on long rallies and heavy groundstrokes. His ability to extend rallies and force errors through sheer consistency often gives him the edge against impatient opponents.
Given that contrast, this could have been a compelling first-round match, had Nagal been physically fit. However, the match never reached that tactical depth, as the Indian couldn’t execute his strengths due to the injury.
Looking Ahead: What Next for Nagal?
At 26, Sumit Nagal has been clawing his way back into the top 150 after an injury-plagued 2022 and early 2023. His run to the second round of the Australian Open 2024, and the semi-final finish at the Chennai Challenger, showed that he still has the game to push into the top 100.
But fitness remains the key.
With the Roland Garros qualifying approaching in May, Nagal’s team will now be forced to assess whether this back issue is a short-term flare-up or something more serious. A few weeks of rest and rehab could be on the cards — and potentially skipping events like Madrid or Rome qualifiers might be a strategic move to protect his longer-term fitness.
Meanwhile, Misolic Marches On
For Filip Misolic, this was a relatively short outing, but it puts him in the second round with minimal time on court. He will now face Federico Coria, a seasoned clay-courter from Argentina. That match will be a test of Misolic’s rally tolerance, especially against someone with Coria’s experience and footwork on red dirt.
It was a disappointing end to what could have been a rewarding week for Sumit Nagal in Monza. From the highs of a three-hour comeback in qualifying to a retirement due to injury, tennis once again proved how cruel and unpredictable the sport can be.
Yet, the glimpses of fighting spirit and form he showed in Italy are positives — if he can stay healthy, Sumit Nagal remains India’s best hope on clay this season.
