Australian Open: Sumit Nagal stuns Alexander Bublik in first round

Sumit Nagal has sailed through the first round of the Australian Open by beating Alexander Bublik with a score of 6-4, 6-2, 7-6. Nagal became the first Indian player after Ramesh Krishnan to beat a seeded player in the Grand Slam.

Melbourne (Australia): Sumit Nagal scripted a monumental upset on the third day of the Australian Open beating Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in three sets with a score of 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 on Tuesday. The historic victory is the first one for Nagal against a Top 50 player and he has entered the second round of a Grand Slam for the second time in his career.

Bublik was the favourite in the game but a display of remarkable composure and resilience from the Indian did the job. Nagal exerted pressure on Bublik's return through his serve and dictated rallies to compel his opponent to make mistakes. The first set of the match was seemingly a close one with both the players holding their serves till the tenth game. However, Nagal broke the opponent's serve at 5-4 to bag the set with a score of 6-4.

• 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐥: 𝐀 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 🔥
  
  Hats off to @nagalsumit for creating magic on the court with his brilliant forehand shots 🎾 and amazing consistency at #AusOpen2024
  
  Masterfully defeating WR No. 27 Bublik in straight sets to reach the 2nd Round… pic.twitter.com/b1J9qA0OVj

  — Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) January 16, 2024 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐥: 𝐀 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 🔥
  
  Hats off to @nagalsumit for creating magic on the court with his brilliant forehand shots 🎾 and amazing consistency at #AusOpen2024
  
  Masterfully defeating WR No. 27 Bublik in straight sets to reach the 2nd Round… pic.twitter.com/b1J9qA0OVj

  — Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) January 16, 2024

  ">

  𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐥: 𝐀 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 🔥
  
  Hats off to @nagalsumit for creating magic on the court with his brilliant forehand shots 🎾 and amazing consistency at #AusOpen2024
  
  Masterfully defeating WR No. 27 Bublik in straight sets to reach the 2nd Round… pic.twitter.com/b1J9qA0OVj

  — Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) January 16, 2024

Nagal opted for aggressive baseline Tennis in the second set and it helped him ink an easy victory over his rival with a score of 6-2. Bublik had found his tempo in the third set and that took the set into a tiebreak. Despite the renewed challenge from the Kazakhstani in the third set, Nagal emerged triumphant in the tiebreak and came on top.

Also, Nagal became the fifth Indian men's single player to make it to the second round of the Australian Open. The victory will boost his morale to advance further into the tournament. The Indian Tennis fans hope that he will orchestrate a solid run in the competition.

• Sumit Nagal serves up a historic performance once again, winning the first round at the #AusOpen by defeating World No. 31 in straight sets—an outstanding effort with not a single double fault. This marks the first time an Indian has beaten a seeded player in a Grand Slam since… pic.twitter.com/Z4O57NUk1P

  — DK (@DineshKarthik) January 16, 2024 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Sumit Nagal serves up a historic performance once again, winning the first round at the #AusOpen by defeating World No. 31 in straight sets—an outstanding effort with not a single double fault. This marks the first time an Indian has beaten a seeded player in a Grand Slam since… pic.twitter.com/Z4O57NUk1P

  — DK (@DineshKarthik) January 16, 2024

  ">

  Sumit Nagal serves up a historic performance once again, winning the first round at the #AusOpen by defeating World No. 31 in straight sets—an outstanding effort with not a single double fault. This marks the first time an Indian has beaten a seeded player in a Grand Slam since… pic.twitter.com/Z4O57NUk1P

  — DK (@DineshKarthik) January 16, 2024

Nagal said he learned a lot during his break. "The last 12-18 months had been both good and bad. Bad due to my injury, and good because I learned a lot during my break. When I returned to the court after the injury, it made me a better and more mature player. I felt and understood tennis much better, and I think that is paying off on the courts," Nagal told Sony Sports Network, the official broadcaster for the Australian Open in India.

Later, Sumit went on to explain his mindset when he saw Alexander Bublik talking a lot to himself and his box between 1st and 2nd serves and added, "When I saw him doing that, I knew I have to be there and just have to give him another ball. Serve a lot of first serves, and not give him chances too many times, and I think that worked well for me. Make him move a lot, and get him more and more annoyed."

Meanwhile, former Indian Tennis star Ramesh Krishnan expressed his delight over Nagal's brilliant victory. "Very happy for him. Wish he keeps the momentum going. Let's hope for good results from him. It's a good achievement because we don't have much in singles to showcase. He has done brilliantly. Hopes are high for him. Fingers crossed for victory," he told ETV Bharat.

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur praised Nagal for his historic victory. Cricketer Dinesh Karthik also shared an X post to praise Nagal.

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