File photo of Sumit Nagal© AFP
Sumit Nagal on Monday became the first Indian player to win a main draw singles match at an ATP Masters event on clay as he shocked world number 38 Matteo Arnaldi in a grueling three-set match in Monte Carlo. Nagal, who entered the ATP Masters 1000 event via the qualifying route, erased a one-set deficit and turned the tables on his Italian opponent for a memorable 5-7 6-2 6-4 victory in the first round. He will then face number seven in the world, Holger Rune from Denmark.
This is Nagal's third win over a top 50 player and the second time in the current season. The 26-year-old had toppled then world number 27 Alexander Bublik in straight sets at the start of the 2024 season at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
He had also defeated then world number 22, Chilean Cristian Garin, at the Argentina Open in March 2021.
Nagal, who qualified for the main draw with wins over higher-ranked players, has secured himself a career-high rank of 80 on a day when he reached a career-high rank of 93.
Nagal had also qualified for the Indian Wells Masters in March this year but fell to formidable Canadian Milos Raonic in the first round. He had also competed in the Miami Masters qualifying tournaments, but could not make it to the main draw.
The first set was evenly matched, with both players breaking each other once. Serving to stay in the set, Nagal lost his serve in the 12th game, with Arnaldi attacking the Indian's first serve.
However, Nagal remained unperturbed and broke his rival twice in the second set for a comfortable 4-1 lead. His serve came under pressure in game six, but he held on to close out the set as a decider.
After trading a break with Arnaldi, Nagal broke his rival's serve for the second time in the seventh game of the third set to take a 4–3 lead and that proved decisive for the final outcome of the match. He consolidated the lead by bagging the eighth game and serving out the match in game 10.
As Arnaldi hit his forehand over the baseline on match point, Nagal let out a roar to celebrate his victory.
Nagal had beaten world number 63 Flavio Cobolli of Italy 6-2 6-3 in the first round of the qualifying tournament and followed that with a victory over Argentina's world number 55 Facundo Diaz Acosta.
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