Sumit Nagal vs Wu Yibing Highlights, ATP Shanghai Masters 2024: Nagal out after straight sets loss

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Sumit Nagal began the year by reaching round two of the Australian Open and winning a Challenger event on home turf the following month. Following the win in Chennai, Nagal broke into the ATP Top 100 for the first time. Challenger titles in Germany and Italy and a first-ever second-draw appearance in the Monte-Carlo Masters took place in quick succession.

The upcoming ATP Shanghai Masters 2024 will be the Indian’s first direct main draw entry into an ATP 1000 level event and his second tournament since the opening round exit at the US Open. From a high of World No. #78, Nagal has settled in at No. #83.

China’s Wu Yibing won the Dallas Open in 2023 to become China’s first ATP Tour titlist in February 2023. He rose to a career-high No. #54 in the ATP Rankings. After the US Open last year, the young Chinese had to undergo surgery for a fracture on his left foot.

A rapid descent in the rankings saw Yibing drop out of the top 100 by October 2023 to the position he currently occupies as World No. #564. The 24-year-old’s win at the 2024 Jinan Open on the Challenger circuit could be the sign of revival he is looking for. In April of the same year, he turned up in Houston and made the main draw after battling through qualifying at his first tournament in seven months. 

Sumit Nagal vs Wu Yibing match details

Date: October 2 (Wednesday)

Time: 10:00 AM (IST)

Venue: Qi Zhong Tennis Center, Shanghai

Sumit Nagal vs Wu Yibing preview

Sumit Nagal and Wu Yibing face for the first time in their careers. Both Nagal and Yibing are yet to win an event of this magnitude, though the Chinese has won the Houston Open — an event in the ATP 250 calendar.

The winner of the Nagal-Yibing face-off will go on to play the World No. #25 and Rome Masters finalist in 2024, Nicolas Jarry. Waiting in the wings in the round of 32 will be third seed Carlos Alcaraz or another pair of Asian players, Juncheng Shang or Coleman Wong. Shang (No. #53) and Coleman (No. #134) rose to career highs in the last week of September.

Shang picked up the title at Chengdu and reached the finals in Atlanta — both ATP 250 events. Wong kept himself busy winning trophies on the Challenger circuit. The Hong Kong based player won in New Delhi, India, and made the finals in Lincoln, along with last four appearances in Tyler and Lexington – the last three North American events.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 0

Sumit Nagal – 0

 Wu Yibing – 0

The upcoming first round between Nagal and Yibing will be the first head-to-head between the two Asian neighbours.

Prediction

Without the pressure of having to go through qualifying rounds, Nagal will be in a buoyant mood. However, the Indian should step up and make the most against a player on the comeback trail.

Yibing, a wildcard at the event, will be looking to regain lost ground, and Nagal will make the ideal opponent to get his eye in. Nagal, like the Chinese, has not caused too many ripples this season. First on Yibing’s mind would be a return to the top 500, and a win over Nagal would set him on that path.

The first round in Shanghai will be a tussle between equals, with both players being steady servers capable of taking advantage of those breakpoint opportunities simultaneously. What goes against Nagal is his inability to press the advantage when in a strong position. It is the Indian’s Achilles Heel and may prove to be his undoing against the more experienced Yibing.

Result: Wu Yibing to win in three sets.

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