How did Sumit Nagal perform in the men’s singles event at the Paris Olympics 2024?
Sumit Nagal is currently India’s best men's singles tennis player. However, the World No.8 couldn't move past the first stage at the Paris Olympics 2024, losing to French player Corentin Moutet in his opening match on Sunday, July 28.
Nagal qualified for the Paris Olympics after winning the Heilbronn NeckarCup ATP Challenger event in Germany. The 26-year-old faced Alexander Ritschard in the finals and secured both victory and qualification in three sets, winning 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3.
Sumit Nagal was drawn against France's Corentin Moutet for his first match of the Paris Olympics. The Indian tennis player had beaten the Frenchman in their last meeting in the Grand Prix of Hassan in April 2024. However, the result was opposite at the Court Seven of Roland Garros on Sunday when the two faced each other at the Olympics.
With a roaring crowd behind the Frenchman, Nagal fell easily in the first set, 2-6 but put up a good fight in the next two. Moutet served underarm multiple times which seemed to frustrate Nagal, with the Indian once banging his racket as well.
But Nagal kept fighting back and was leading 2-0 in the decider at this point. However, the 26-year-old couldn't capitalize on the opportunity and found himself 0-40 before the set was eventually back on serve.
Sumit Nagal fought back but it wasn't enough against the home favorite Corentin Moutet in the end, losing the match in three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 5-7. With the loss, the Indian No.1 is out of the Paris Olympics.
Did Sumit Nagal compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics?
Sumit Nagal competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the men's singles competition. Although he didn't qualify directly for the event, the withdrawal of multiple players including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, meant that the Indian made the cut for the Olympic Games despite being ranked 144.
He faced Uzbekistan’s Dennis Istomin in the opening round of the Tokyo Olympics and won the match in three sets, 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4. With his victory, Nagal became the first Indian to qualify for the second round at the Olympic Games for the first time in 25 years.
The 26-year-old faced then World No.2 Daniil Medvedev in the second round of the competition. However, he fell easily to the Russian, losing in two sets, 6-2, 6-1 at the Tokyo Olympics.