Sumit Nagal wins Chennai Open 2024, enters top 100 in ATP rankings

Published at :February 11, 2024 at 8:56 PM

Modified at :February 13, 2024 at 1:26 PM

(Courtesy : PTI)

Sumit Nagal defeated Luca Nardi in straight sets

Sumit Nagal, an Indian tennis player, clinched his fifth ATP Challenger Tour title by winning the Chennai Open 2024 singles final on Sunday, February 11, 2024. He defeated Luca Nardi, the top-seeded player from Italy, in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, in a dominant performance.

The victory also ensured that Nagal would enter the top 100 in the ATP rankings for the first time in his career. He became the first Indian man since Prajnesh Gunneswaran in 2019 to achieve this feat. Nagal is currently ranked 121 in the world but is expected to rise to around 90 when the new rankings are released on Monday.

The top-seeded Nardi, who was also aiming for a Top 100 spot, looked tired after his grueling semifinal on Saturday and made three awful errors with his forehand in the first five points. Nagal took advantage of his mistakes and broke him in the second and sixth games to win the first set.

Nagal kept targeting the weak backhand of the young Italian, who was 20 years old. Nardi tried to end the rallies with drop shots, but they did not work. He managed to recover from a break deficit twice in the second set. However, the Indian broke him again at 5-4 and got the opportunity to serve for the match.

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It seemed that Nardi would break back once more, but Nagal fended off two break points before hitting a brilliant forehand winner along the line. On match point, he served wide to the ad court and Nardi’s backhand return flew long

Nagal’s success comes after his historic run at the Australian Open 2024

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