Sumit Nagal’s search for an ATP main draw qualification continued as he failed to qualify in the ATP 500 Swiss Indoors and the ATP 1000 Paris Masters.
He had last made the main draw of an ATP 500 or above event at Monte Carlo Masters in April this year where he made the second round after qualifying beating higher ranked opponents on his preferred Clay courts.
Swiss Indoors
In the Swiss Indoors held in Basel, Nagal won a hard-fought come-from-behind victory against Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta (World Rank 66) in a match lasting nearly four hours in the first qualification round.
It was a match that tested his fitness but he still came through 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-6(5).
His exhaustion could be felt in his next round as he went down in straight sets to James Duckworth of Australia (World Rank 69) 4-6, 6-7(2).
Despite not completely recovering from the marathon match from the previous day, he gave a good fight, especially in the second set.
Paris Masters
Sumit continued to make history by becoming the first Indian to compete in Men’s singles since the Amritraj brothers in 1974. He made the qualifying draw as an alternate at the last minute.
However, Sumit went down to the Australian Christopher O’Connell (World Rank 71) in a close encounter 4-6, 6-7(3) on fast indoor courts.
Sumit’s ranking has dropped from a career-high of 68 to 81. He has made it to main draw at the ATP 250 Moselle Open in Metz scheduled for November 3.
He is also seeded #1 in the entry list for the Montemar Challenger on Clay from November 18. Sumit will be hoping to have a good run in these tournaments before finishing his 2024 season
