Indian Wells Open 2024: Sumit Nagal brushes aside Stefan Dostanic in qualifying round 1, eyes main draw entry

Nagal will face South Korea’s Seong-chan Hong in the final round of qualifying.

In a display of sheer dominance, India’s top-ranked tennis player, Sumit Nagal, made a remarkable debut at the Indian Wells Open 2024 by defeating American wildcard Stefan Dostanic in straight sets. The Indian Wells Masters, often referred to as the ‘fifth Grand Slam,’ witnessed Nagal’s dominant display on the hard courts as he sailed through the first round of the qualifiers with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Nagal, who entered the tournament as the eighth seed in qualifying, showcased his skill and determination, wrapping up the match in just 68 minutes. His performance was particularly impressive as he did not face a single break point throughout the match.

🎾 Rising through the ranks with relentless drive! Sumit Nagal shines at Indian Wells, dispatching Stefan Dostanic with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 win in Qualifying Round 1.He will face South Korea's Hong Seong-chan in the final qualifying round today.#SumitNagal #IndianWells pic.twitter.com/YzXdjyU65w

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) March 5, 2024

This victory not only marks a significant achievement in Nagal’s career but also adds 10 ATP ranking points to his tally, along with a prize purse of USD 14,400. The Indian tennis sensation has been on a historic run, becoming the first Indian men’s singles player in a decade to reach the second round of the Australian Open earlier this year. He also became the first Indian player in 35 years to defeat a seeded opponent at Grand Slams, when he defeated the Kazakh Alexander Bublik, who recently played Dubai Tennis Championships finals.

Following his Australian Open success, Nagal continued his winning streak by clinching the Chennai Challenger title, which propelled him into the top 100 of the ATP rankings. Nagal had tough outings at the Bengaluru open and Pune ATP Challenger where he failed to make it to the finals.

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Looking ahead, Nagal is set to face Seong-chan Hong in the second round of qualifying on Tuesday. Hong, coming off a victory against compatriot Soon-woo Kwon, has been enjoying a good run of form, reaching two ATP Challenger-level finals this year, including one in Bengaluru.

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