India’s top-ranked men’s singles tennis player, Sumit Nagal, is set to begin his Roland Garros 2025 campaign on Tuesday, 20 May, in the qualifying rounds.
The 26-year-old, currently ranked No. 169 in the ATP rankings, will take on Mitchell Krueger of the USA (ATP No. 151) in the first qualifying round — a crucial match that could define his run toward the main draw.
A Season of Challenges, A Window of Opportunity
Nagal has had a mixed season so far. Despite strong performances in spurts, the consistency and results have not been in his favor.
A narrow loss to France’s Corentin Moutet at the last Roland Garros 2024, where Nagal went down 2-6, 6-2, 5-7, showcased his fighting spirit but also highlighted the fine margins that have kept him from going deep in tournaments this year.
Still, Nagal has every reason to be optimistic. He is back on his favorite surface — clay — and has shown flashes of form. Most notably, he produced a solid performance against Hugo Gaston just last week. The conditions then were quite similar to those at Roland Garros, which could play in his favor.
The Matchup: Sumit Nagal vs Mitchell Krueger
Krueger, Nagal’s first-round opponent, comes into this match with a bit of confidence after reaching the final at the Oeiras Challenger, a clay event in Portugal. Along the way, the American defeated proven clay-courters like Thiago Monteiro and Yibing Wu.
However, it’s important to note that conditions in Oeiras are very different from those in Paris — and Krueger’s history at Roland Garros is particularly poor.
The 30-year-old has a 0-6 career record at Roland Garros, never having won a match on these storied courts. That kind of streak can weigh heavily on a player’s mind, especially in the pressure cooker of a Grand Slam qualifier.
On the other hand, Nagal holds a 1-5 record at Roland Garros but has looked more comfortable on clay overall. He is widely recognized as the better clay-courter between the two.
This clash will be the second match of the day on Court 9, with the action expected to begin around 3:00 PM IST on Tuesday, following the 1:30 PM IST opener.
A Gettable Draw for Nagal?
While nothing comes easy in Grand Slam tennis, Nagal could not have asked for a more manageable path to the main draw. If he gets past Krueger, he’ll face the winner of Christopher Eubanks vs Jurij Rodionov in the second qualifying round — a matchup that, while tricky, is within reach for Nagal on clay. Both players are more effective on faster surfaces and have limited success on clay.
Should he make it to the final round of qualifiers (QR3), Nagal could face Taro Daniel or Stefano Napolitano — again, strong players but beatable, especially given Nagal’s natural ability on clay and familiarity with European playing conditions.
That said, form remains a concern. He’s had opportunities this season but hasn’t quite capitalized on them. Still, the Roland Garros qualifiers provide a fresh slate. And this is arguably one of the best draws he could have hoped for. Krueger is probably the toughest opponent in the path, which makes this opening match crucial.
Grand Slam History and Indian Hopes
Sumit Nagal has already made history by appearing in the main draw of all four Grand Slam tournaments:
- Australian Open (2021, 2024) – 1-2 W/L
- Roland Garros (2024) – 0-1 W/L
- Wimbledon (2024) – 0-1 W/L
- US Open (2019, 2020) – 1-2 W/L
He famously took a set off Roger Federer at the 2019 US Open and has continued to carry the flag for Indian men’s singles in a challenging era. As the only Indian male singles player consistently competing at the Grand Slam level, his performances resonate far beyond the results column.
Winning the first round will not only bring Nagal closer to the main draw of Roland Garros but also boost his ranking and confidence during a crucial part of the season. A main draw entry in Paris would mark a significant milestone and potentially pave the way for a better grass and hard court swing in the second half of 2025.
While Krueger enters with slightly better recent results, the matchup favors Nagal on multiple fronts — surface, past experience, and court familiarity. With a relatively open draw and improved match fitness, this is a golden opportunity for Sumit Nagal to make a mark at Roland Garros. He will need to play smart, capitalize on Krueger’s weaknesses on clay, and bring the fight he’s shown in patches all season long.
Let’s rally behind India’s No. 1 as he steps onto the red clay of Paris — carrying not just his racquet, but the hopes of a tennis-loving nation. 🇮🇳
