Dubai Tennis Championships 2024: Sumit Nagal bows out, Rohan Bopann-Matt Ebden advances

Yuki Bhambri who teamed up with Robin Haase made it to quarterfinals in men’s doubles

In a day of mixed fortunes for Indian tennis at the Dubai Tennis Championships 2024, the spotlight was on three key matchups. Sumit Nagal, the rising star of Indian tennis, faced off against World No. 48 Lorenzo Sonego in a gripping men’s singles match. Meanwhile, Rohan Bopanna, recently crowned the top player in men’s doubles, teamed up with Matt Ebden to challenge the formidable duo of Skander Mansouri and Aisam Ul Qureshi, Yuki Bhambri was also in the action in Men’s doubles.

Indian wild card Sumit Nagal who briefly made it to the top 100, faced off against Italian star Lorenzo Sonego, ranked 48, whose last appearance at this event was in 2023 when he made it to the quarterfinals.

Nagal struggled to match Sonego’s intensity in his Round of 32 match, and the Italian took the set and the match 6-1, winning the game 6-4, 5-7, and 6-1.

The first set between Nagal and Sonego was a tightly contested affair. Both players showcased their skills, but it was Sonego who broke Nagal’s serve after a 3-3 deadlock with his impressive forehand and backhand play. Despite Nagal’s attempts to bounce back, Sonego took the first set 6-4.

The second set saw an even closer competition, with both players holding their serves until 5-5. However, Nagal managed to break Sonego’s serve and held onto his own to clinch the set 7-5.

The third set, however, was a one-way street. Sonego’s dominant forehand smashes and powerful serves took over the game.

Sonego’s dominance was evident in the stats, with 11 chances of break points to Nagal’s 2 and 7 aces to Nagal’s one.

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In the doubles arena, World No. 1 Rohan Bopanna and Matt Ebden defeated Aisam Ul Qureshi and Skander Mansouri 7 (7)-6 (4), 7 (7)-6 (5) in the Round of 16. The Indo-Australian pair, known for their deep game and tie-breaker abilities, took the sets after both teams failed to break each other’s serve.

Bopanna and Ebden, fresh from their Australian Open victory, will next face Ariel Behar of Uruguay and Czech Adam Pavlasek in the quarterfinals.

In another positive development, Yuki Bhambri and his Dutch partner Robin Haase also progressed to the quarterfinals, defeating Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik and Adrian Mannarino of France 6-7(6) 6-3 10-8 in a round of 16 match. Bhambri and Haase will next face the winner of the match between the Belgian duo of Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen and third seed English-Kiwi pair of Jamal Murray and Michael Venus.

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