Defending champion Nagal starts with win
BENGALURU: Defending champion Sumit Nagal knocked out seventh seed Jay Clarke in the first round, continuing his love affair with the Bengaluru Tennis Open ATP Challenger Tour on Monday.
The much anticipated meeting of last year’s finalists in the first round was expected to be a close match but while Clarke disappointed, Nagal persevered. Nagal, who has been struggling since his breakthrough win here last year and needed a wild card to enter the event, started well breaking Clarke twice in the third and ninth games to win the set 6-4.
He was aggressive and man- aged to put Clarke on the back foot early.
The first break came in the third game and Nagal then won his serve to go 3-1 up. Clarke, however, had his moments when he was able to surprise Nagal. He broke the Indian in the sixth game to bring the set to an even keel, only for Nagal to take the set 6-4, breaking Clarke in the ninth game and then winning on his serve.
“I am playing the same guy as last year and I am happy with the win. I played a lot better today and am looking forward to the second round,” Nagal said. The second set saw Clarke trying to make a comeback and Nagal struggle in closing the games. The Indian managed to convert only two of the seven break points, allowing Clarke enough breathing space to hope for a comeback.
Nagal went ahead in the third game winning a break to lead 2-1. Clarke won the next to not only equalise but also go ahead holding on to his serve. Nagal finally sealed the win and a second round berth winning the 11th and 12 games. “I was focused not to lose the advantage. Since last year I was getting into situations wherein I was set up and a break up in the second set but then will lose the second and the third set. So Idea today was to do the right things,” Nagal said.
Another top player who took a tumble on the first day was second seed Marco Trungelliti who was ousted by Turkey’s Cem Ilkel in three sets. The Turkish player won the match 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(3). In other first round singles matches, Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Nedovyesov beat Netherlands Scott Griekspoor 6-3, 6-2 and fifth seed Marc Polmans registered a come from behind three-setwin over Maverick Banes 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.