How did the Indian players perform at Wimbledon 2024? Ft. Sumit Nagal and Rohan Bopanna
Wimbledon 2024, currently underway at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, saw four Indian tennis players compete. The Grand Slam tournament is one of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments in tennis and playing at Wimbledon is a dream for every tennis player.
Indian veteran Rohan Bopanna, Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, and N Sriram Balaji were the four Indians who were in action at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament. For Bopanna, Nagal, and Balaji, the tournament will also serve as a preparation for the Paris Olympics 2024, which will be played at the Stade Roland Garros.
Let’s take a look at how the Indians faired at the Wimbledon 2024 in London.
Performance of the Indian players at Wimbledon 2024
#4 Rohan Bopanna
Ace tennis player Rohan Bopanna featured in the men’s doubles alongside Australian Matthew Ebden. The pair were among the favorites to clinch the title, having won the Australian Open earlier this year in January.
They started the competition with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over the Dutch duo of Robin Haase and Sander Arends. However, the journey was shortlived as they crashed out of the competition in Round 2 after losing to the German duo of Constantin Frantzen and Hendrik Jebens in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
The Indo-Aussie duo dragged the match to an hour and 18 minutes but unfortunately ended up on the losing side.
#3 Sumit Nagal
Top-ranked Indian Sumit Nagal featured in two events at Wimbledon 2024 - the men’s singles and the men’s doubles. It was Nagal’s first appearance in a main draw match at Wimbledon and he was expected to have a great run.
Unfortunately, he lost in the opening round of both events. In the men’s singles, Nagal lost to Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6. Meanwhile, in the men’s doubles, he was paired with Serbian Dusan Lajovic and lost to Spanish pair of Jaume Munar and Pedro Martinez 6-2, 6-2.
#2 Yuki Bhambri
Yuki Bhambri also didn’t make it much further at Wimbledon 2024 as he crashed out in the second round of men’s doubles. In the opening round, Yuki and his French partner Albano Olivetti defeated Kazakhstan’s duo of Alexander Shevchenko and Alexander Bublik in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.
However, the duo then lost to Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz of Germany 6-4, 4-6, 3-6 in Round 2, bringing an end to their journey.
#1 N Sriram Balaji
N Sriram Balaji also bid an early goodbye to Wimbledon 2024. He was paired with the local tennis player Luke Johnson in the men’s doubles.
The duo lost in the opening round 4-6, 5-7 against Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo. As a result, none of the Indian players made a significant impact at the Grand Slam event after a set of disappointing results.