Australian Open 2024: Sumit Nagal stuns World No 31 Alexander Bublik

India’s Sumit Nagal defeated World No 31 Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(5) in straight sets to advance into the second round of the Australian Open. He will face the winner of Mackenzie McDonald and Shang Juncheng up next in the second round

Nagal became the first Indian since Ramesh Krishnan at the 1989 Australian Open to beat a seeded player at a Grand Slam.

That's a big win for @nagalsumit 🇮🇳

He takes out No. 31 seed Bublik 6-4 6-2 7-6(5).#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/ldM9VE4X0M

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2024

The top-ranked Indian singles player defeated Slovakia’s Alex Molcan, did not lose a set to reach the main draw of a Major for the fourth time in his career.

Nagal, who recovered from a series of injuries to increase his ranking to 122 after being ranked outside the top 500 for much of last year, looked in good nick during his qualifying campaign, not losing a single set across his three matches.

Nagal himself was the last Indian to play in the singles main draw of a Grand Slam, at the 2021 Australian Open, after he received a singles wildcard reserved for one player from the Asia-Pacific region.

At the 2020 US Open, Nagal became the first Indian since Somdev Devvarman seven years prior, to win a main draw match at a Grand Slam.

More to follow…

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