2024 Shanghai Masters: When was the last time an Indian competed in the main draw?
The Shanghai Masters 2024 is up and running, with the ATP 1000 Masters event having begun on September 30, 2024, and set to continue till October 13. The main draw will begin on October 2.
Two Indian players, that is, Sumit Nagal and Ramkumar Ramanathan, will be a part of the main draw, marking an achievement for Indian tennis. What makes this significant is the fact that it is after a long gap of 13 years that any Indian will compete in the main draw of the Shanghai Masters.
Somdev Devvarman was the last Indian to have competed in the main draw of the tournament, way back in 2011. It was not a memorable outing for Somdev as he made a first-round exit from the ATP Masters event that year.
Somdev suffered a straight-sets defeat at the hands of Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. The Indian lost 4-6, 3-6 in an hour and 27 minutes in his opening match of the USD 3,240,00 hardcourt tournament.
After Somdev Devvarman's main-draw appearance in 2011, this is the first time any Indian player will compete in the main draw of the tournament once again.
Sumit Nagal and Ramkumar Ramanathan to compete in 2024 Shanghai Masters main draw
Currently ranked India's top men's singles player, World No. 83 Sumit Nagal is all set for his debut at the Shanghai Masters 2024. In what will be his third ATP Masters 1000 main-draw appearance, he will face China's Wu Yibing in the Round-of-128 clash on Wednesday, October 2.
He will therefore become the first Indian to participate in the men's singles main draw since Somdev Devvarman.
Along with Sumit, Ramkumar Ramanathan is also set to feature in the main draw of the 2024 ATP Masters 1000 event. Ramanathan had to make it to the main draw the hard way, having to win both his qualifier matches, which he successfully did.
He defeated Ugo Blanchet 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in his first qualifier match. In his second qualifier match, he was up against China's Sun Fajing. Ramanathan registered a comfortable win against Sun Fajing, with the scoreline reading 6-2, 6-4.