Austrian Open: Sumit Nagal advances to the Round of 16 after a win over Lukas Klein
Paris Olympics 2024 bound Sumit Nagal kicked off his Austrian Open 2024 with a hard-fought victory over Slovakia’s Lukas Klein.
Austrian Open 2024, also known as the Generali Open, is currently underway in Kitzbuhel, Austria. India’s top-ranked men’s singles player Nagal took on Lukas in the Round of 32 match on Monday, July 22.
Sumit Nagal got off to a winning start and laid a strong foundation with a 6-4 victory in the first set. However, the Slovakian was not someone to give up as he dominated Nagal in the second set to defeat the Indian 1-6. Lukas hardly allowed Nagal any room to maneuver and took the game to the third set.
The third set proved to be a nail-biter, with both players trading games and keeping each other on their toes. Nagal managed to break Klein’s serve, leveling the score at 5-5 and forcing the match into a tiebreak. In the decisive moments, Nagal held his nerve to win the tiebreak 7-3, closing out the match with a final scoreline of 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3).
Who will Sumit Nagal face in the next round of the Austrian Open?
Sumit Nagal’s victory over Lukas Klein propels him into the Round of 16 on Tuesday, July 23, where he will face Spain’s Pedro Martinez. Martinez is seeded fourth and received a bye in his first round.
Nagal will need to bring his best game to the court against Martinez, aiming to build momentum and confidence ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024. As the only Indian competing in the singles category at the event, Nagal carries the hopes of many Indian fans.
The tennis events at the Paris Olympics 2024 are scheduled to take place from July 27 to August 4 at the iconic clay courts of Stade Roland Garros. Nagal’s performance at the Austrian Open serves as a crucial preparation for his Paris Olympics journey.