Like the proverbial phoenix rising, Sumit Nagal, India’s top-ranked men’s tennis player, has made a massive leap to be ranked 141 on the ATP computer. On Sunday, Nagal lost a three-setter to Corentin Moutet, the world No. 51, in a Challenger event in Helsinki, Finland.
Playing on a hard court indoors, the way Nagal fought was praiseworthy. “It is really sad not to get over the line today,” he told RevSportz in an exclusive interview on Monday, after the 3-6, 6-3, 2-6 defeat. “Yet, it has been a special week for me.”
At 26, Nagal has seen the highs and lows. The last few weeks, beginning with the Davis Cup in Lucknow in September, have, however, been positive. He had breaking point in a financial sense midway through the year, and his interview with this writer before the Asian Games in Hangzhou – and the attention it garnered on social media – was noteworthy for its candour.
“I feel much better now than I did the last two years, for sure,” said Nagal. “It was a tough period but I had no choice other than to go through it, and it has also made me stronger and more mature on and off court.”
As one who had spent time honing his skills in Germany, first supported by Virat Kohli’s foundation, Nagal had been through a lot of trauma during the Covid pandemic. He also had an injury that required surgery, and saw his ranking sink below 500.
Hard work and belief kept him going. Of course, when he found a sponsor in Gatorade while in China, that was brilliant news. “Every bit helps towards the career, for sure,” he said. “I am very fortunate to partner with Gatorade and looking forward to this partnership.”
In Helsinki, he had Sascha Nensel again in the coach’s corner. “Big players have a massive support system,” said Nagal. “Someone like Carlos (Alcaraz) has four or five people to help him. All that is not possible without a sponsor, I am glad to be doing well again.”
Asked about his meteoric rise in the final months of 2023, Nagal was in a relaxed mood. “Haha, if you had asked me 10 months ago my answer would have been different as I was ranked outside 500, but jokes apart, it has been a good year so far, and looking to finish even stronger in November,” he said.
With the pressure relenting, Nagal hopes to do well in a few more Challengers. Asked about being on the road and how tough it is, he was philosophical. “The tennis tour will always stay the same, as there are no changes happening in this aspect,” he said. “Sometimes, you are okay, and sometimes you miss home, as it was Diwali in India yesterday.”
He had represented India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, as Yuki Bhambri was injured. Is he looking forward to Paris in 2024 if he makes the cut? “That’s one of my goals, so I will be competing hard for it,” he said. There are many more ATP ranking points to chase before the cut-off for the Paris Olympics next summer.