Sumit Nagal had defeated Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in straight sets 6-4,6-2, 7-6 (7-5) in the first round to become the first Indian to reach the second round of the Australian Open after 11 years.
India's top-ranked men's tennis player Sumit Nagal storms into the second round with a stunning win over Alexander Bublik and is set to face China's Shang Juncheng in the next round at Melbourne Park on Thursday morning.
Novak Djokovic needed four sets to beat the world no.43 Australian Alexei Popyrin to progress to round three but the top-ten ranked Maria Sakkari and Ons Jabeur suffered exits in the women's singles at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.
Sumit Nagal progressed through the qualifying round when he defeated three players to enter the main draw of the Australian Open. Nagal is the first Indian after Somdev Devvarman to reach the second round of the tournament.
Defending Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will kick off his bid for the record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title with a first-round clash against qualifier Dino Prizmic at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, January 14.
India's top-ranked tennis ace beat Slovakian no.1 Alex Molcan in the third and final qualifying round by 6-4, 6-4 to clinch the direct qualification to the main draw of the Australian Open 2024 and will be facing the world no.31 Alexander Bublik in the first round on January 15.
"This is wrong. When it's a question of serving the country why would you not do it? I have put the matter in the hands of the Executive Committee," All India Tennis Association (AITA) Secretary General Dhupar said on Friday.
Nagal, who had lost in the first round of the US Open Qualifiers, communicated to the national tennis federation AITA on Saturday that doctors have advised him not to play on the hard courts.
Nagal had played in the Australian Open main draw early this year and had lost in the first round. He could not qualify for the French Open and missed the Wimbledon qualifiers due to an unrevealed injury.
Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal will begin his US Open qualifying campaign for a main draw spot as he takes on World No. 246 Juan Pablo Ficovich in the opening round.
Nagal had won his first round against Uzbekistan Denis Istomin for India's first men's singles win at Olympics in 25 years.
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India's Sumit Nagal beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in three sets to enter the second round at 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
A first-round win for the 23-year-old Indian could see him face second-seeded Russia's Daniil Medvedev.
The ace Indian tennis player in men's singles was ranked 144 when the cut-off date for qualification was applied on June 14.
Following being accused of not qualifying for Olympics on merit, Bopanna shared an alleged phone call with AITA general secretary Anil Dhupar, where the official said qualification is possible.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) communicated to the AITA that Nagal was eligible for men's singles, hours before the deadline for entries expires.
The Haryana youngster crashed out of the Clay Court major with a 3-6 3-6 loss to Alejandro Tabilo from Chile, last night.
The 23-year Nagal is yet to earn a main draw berth in the Clay court Grand Slam and must make a good start against the 191st ranked Marcora.
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