Sumit Nagal vs Holger Rune Highlights, Monte Carlo Masters 2024: Brave Nagal goes down fighting in three sets

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India’s Sumit Nagal has secured a spot in the main draw for the second time during his third ATP Masters 1000 event of 2024. Nagal made it to the main draw at Indian Wells but was defeated by Milos Raonic. In Monaco, he overcame Flavio Cobolli and Facundo Diaz Acosta in the qualifying rounds to advance to the main draw of the Monte Carlo Masters 2024.

In the first qualifying round against Cobolli, Nagal triumphed with a straight-set victory, 6-2, 6-3, in one hour and twenty-one minutes. The second qualifying round was a more extended affair, lasting two hours and twenty-five minutes, where Nagal emerged victorious against the Argentine Diaz Acosta with scores of 7-5, 2-6, 6-2.

Having recently achieved a career-high ranking of No. 93 in the ATP Rankings, Nagal has become only the third Indian to participate in the main draw at Monaco, joining Vijay Amritraj in 1977 and Ramesh Krishnan in 1982.

Sumit Nagal vs Holger Rune preview

Sumit Nagal ensured a victorious debut in the Monte Carlo Masters main draw against Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi. On Monday, Nagal achieved an upset win over the 38th-ranked Arnaldi, with scores of 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, in two hours and thirty-seven minutes.

This three-set victory over Arnaldi marked their first encounter on the ATP tour and their second overall. They had previously met on the Challenger circuit in 2019 in Barletta, Italy, where Nagal also emerged victorious.

In the second set, Nagal dominated, winning comfortably by breaking Arnaldi’s serve in the third, fifth, and seventh games. He continued his strong performance by breaking Arnaldi in the third and seventh games of the final set and saved a breakpoint in the eighth game to secure the set at 6-4 and clinch the match.

Witnessed by Indian veteran Rohan Bopanna, Nagal became the first Indian player to win a Masters 1000 match on clay and the first to win a singles main draw match in Monte Carlo.

Following this win, Nagal advanced to the second round, where he will face last year’s finalist and the world’s number seven, Holger Rune. The Danish player presents a formidable challenge for Nagal and will be making his first appearance in Monaco for the 2024 edition, having received a bye in the first round.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 1

Holger Rune – 1

Sumit Nagal – 0

The only time Holger Rune and Sumit Nagal crossed paths was in their round-robin Group 1 Davis Cup tie in February 2023. Rune defeated Nagal in the reverse singles tie that helped Denmark seal a 3-1 victory against India.

Prediction

After securing his second top-50 victory of the year against Arnaldi, Nagal is optimistic about his chances against Holger Rune. Earlier this year in Melbourne, Sumit Nagal defeated the then World No. 27, Alexander Bublik, in the first round of the Australian Open.

Currently ranked No. 80 in the ATP live rankings, the Indian is set to compete against the seventh seed, Holger Rune, in their round of 32 match on Wednesday.

As they head into Wednesday’s matchup, Rune has won three out of five previous matches, benefiting from two byes. Nagal has claimed victory in four of his last five matches this season. Rune, known for his unpredictability, has frequently squandered advantageous positions and at times has been merely a spectator on the court.

Most notably, the Dane succumbed to Fabian Marozsan in the Miami Masters second round, with the scoreline ending at 1-6, 1-6.

Nagal, on the other hand, has proven to be more consistent, pushing his opponents to the limit in five of his last six matches, each extending to three sets since the ATP 500 event in Dubai in February.

Result: Holger Rune to win in three sets.

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