Sumit Nagal had a mixed 2024. At the Australian Open, he came through the qualifiers and stunned the then World No. 27 Alexander Bublik in the first round, and in February, he broke into the ATP top-100 for the first time. In April on the Monte Carlo clay, he started in the qualifying rounds and nearly entered the round of 16 before losing narrowly to Holger Rune (No.7) in three sets.
Propelled by a trophy and a runner-up finish in consecutive Challengers in June — again on his beloved red dirt — he got to a career-best ranking of No. 68 in mid-July.
But the 27-year-old’s lack of success at the other three Slams — French Open, Wimbledon and US Open — will rankle him, and so will his 1-11 win-loss record on the Tour starting from the Paris Olympics.
There was also the controversy regarding his non-availability for the Davis Cup World Group I tie against Sweden in September — an issue he did not want to comment on — that India lost badly (0-4). As the 2025 season looms, Nagal, now ranked 98th in the World, told The Hindu in an interview that he was confident of learning from the experiences of the last 12 months and making a push for the ATP top-50. Excerpts:
Since breaking into the top-100, you have managed to stay there. How do you describe your season?
I feel like I played two different seasons. The first seven months were different, and around the US Open and post-US Open, things were different. The first few months I was really fit and playing well. The confidence was high and I really enjoyed being on the court. Once my back gave up a bit, and I really couldn’t find out what the reason was, the training became less and there was a lot of worrying on the court. I lost track a little there.
You competed at all four Majors, a first in your career. Then, you played a few Masters tournaments which included your Monte Carlo high, a few ATP 500s and 250s. What were the biggest learnings from being in the upper tier?
If I am talking about playing the higher-ranked opponents, [I learnt that] you have to be on top of your game because the margin is very less. Everyone serves well, hits well, moves well. So, you have to show that you are ready to fight and play the first and last points at the same high level. That’s the difference I feel from Challengers to the ATP Tour. You don’t get so many free points [on the Tour].
How do you rate yourself? Do you feel you belong to this stage?
Definitely. I very much believe that I belong in the top-100. I will back myself for it. I just have to be a little smarter in a few things, like scheduling, fitness routines… if that is done, I should be okay.
You are the only Indian playing in singles in the bigger events. Do you feel the pressure?
Not really. I just feel sad. I wish I also had some Indian friends playing. It is nice to see two, three people at a bigger event, share the biggest stage and share some dinners. It gets very lonely otherwise. Obviously, in tennis, things don’t change overnight. I really hope there’s a time when we have two or three people playing at a very high level.
Sumit Nagal celebrates after winning the Chennai Open ATP Challenger tennis.
| Photo Credit:
FILE PHOTO: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
You have put together winning streaks in Challengers. Earlier in 2024, you won the title in Chennai and reached the semifinals in Bengaluru in back-to-back weeks. What does it take to replicate something similar at the Tour level? What is the gulf in challenge that you’re looking at?
It’s very similar if you look at the physical side of things. You have to be fit because matches are getting longer and harder. There were a few times in the ATP 250s where I felt like I should have won, but didn’t. So, instead of losing in the second round or round of 16 on a Thursday, I could have gone deeper in the tournament. There was a match where I was serving 40-love up and ended up losing. Then there was one where I was a set and a break up and lost. If I could have turned around those, the year would have been very different. But it’s fine. It’s my first experience. Obviously, I can’t expect a good draw all the time and sometimes I have to take it up as a challenge.
How does your game measure up to the prevailing standards in men’s tennis? We see players getting bigger and taller…
I wish I was taller. I really wish. But then, I cannot change that. So, for me, to give myself a chance, it is to be like how David Ferrer was. I have tried to copy him. If I can be physically fit and mentally strong, fighting for every ball, making that extra ball all the time, I will be doing well.
Game-wise, what have you worked on? What do you have to get better at?
I’m practising a lot of serves, backhands and transitions to the net. These three are my biggest goals. I am getting better, but there’s a lot of room to upscale.
Sumit Nagal in action during his match against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik.
| Photo Credit:
FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
When you play at big tournaments, you meet a lot of top players. What have you learnt from them?
When the top players get the racquet on the ball, they don’t miss. It is incredible how they do it because it is super tough. They hit it hard and they don’t miss. It’s very simple to say but tough to do. That’s where the difference comes. People who are able to do it will go high up the rankings. I played the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi last year too and that was probably the first time I got to see so many top-ranked players. It was the same thing with everyone — if they have the racquet in position, they do not miss.
What do you think was the high point of 2024? And what could you have done better?
To be able to compete for many months. For almost a year and a half, nothing major happened to me and I was on the court practising and getting better. That was really good. In the past, I couldn’t really play for the whole year. It was on and off, and that didn’t give me the chance to play at the highest level. Towards the end of 2023, I knew I was playing really good tennis. I was eager and hungry to start the next year.
Are you feeling the same now?
Yes. I’m actually looking forward to it. I’ve never enjoyed going to Australia but since the beginning of 2024, my perspective has changed.
What did that one win against Bublik tell you?
I don’t think it was just that one match. It was the whole tournament. It felt like I had figured out how to play on those courts. When I was young, I struggled quite a bit. But now, I am more comfortable playing in those conditions. If I enjoy the conditions, nothing matters to me.
How do you maintain your focus? You have dealt with many injuries in the past. Recently, the never-ending controversy regarding Davis Cup selection flared up again…
Nothing, to be honest. You just keep doing your own thing. Tennis is a very lonely sport. It doesn’t really bother me because I have bigger and better things to do, and I have to improve so much on my game that my whole focus goes towards it.
Have you set any targets for 2025? What do you want to improve on?
I would love to break into the top-50. I’m going to push for it because 2024 was a good learning experience. It was the first time playing the ATP calendar. In the coming season, I’ll be smarter with scheduling and I’ll go for the top-50.
Published – December 29, 2024 11:46 pm IST
