Super Sumit show
Nagal downs Klahn, to meet Thiem in 2nd round
New York, Sept. 2: Sumit Nagal became the first Indian to win a round at a Grand Slam in seven years when he downed American Bradley Klahn in his US Open first round, setting up a contest against World No. 3 Dominic Thiem, here.
Returning to the Flushing Meadows where he took a set off Roger Federer, the Indian got past the local rival 6- 1, 6- 3, 3- 6, 6- 1 in two hours and 12 minutes on Tuesday night.
Somdev Devavarman was the last Indian to win a main draw match at a major and incidentally, it was at the US Open in 2013 when he beat Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko after coming through qualifiers.
“I qualified for a junior Slam in 2013 here and then the men’s and now to win my first round here means a lot. I enjoy playing here and it has worked out in my favour few times,” Nagal said.
“It was not easy to walk inside the court knowing this match is more in your favour. I was definitely nervous and especially playing for my first slam win but I did the things I was supposed to and kept my composure,” he added.
After Somdev, Indian tennis saw the rise of Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunnes- waran but none of them could win a main draw round.
Ramkumar did not even qualify for a main draw in many attempts.
Bhambri had to cope with injuries and that halted his progress. Between 2015 and 2018 he competed all four majors but never crossed a round.
Nagal said Indian tennis should have done better and partly blamed it on the not- so- helpful “system” as well.
Up next for him will be Austria’s top player Thiem, who advanced when his Spanish rival Jaume Munar retired before the start of the third set. Thiem was leading 7- 6( 6), 6- 3 when Munar found it difficult to continue as he injured his knee during the second set.
Nagal hardly cares for reputations and is expected to make it tough for the World No. 3. —
I qualified for a junior Slam in 2013 here and then the men’s and now to win my first round here means a lot. I enjoy playing here and it has worked out in my favour few times.
SUMIT NAGAL after beating Bradley Klahn in US Open first round
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