India’s Sumit Nagal guaranteed big payday after stunning win in Melbourne

MELBOURNE – Sumit Nagal, India’s top-ranked singles player, was left with around a thousand dollars in his bank account at one point last season, so it was no surprise that he was beaming on Jan 16 after ensuring a bumper payday at the Australian Open.

The world No. 137 had battled his way through three rounds of qualifying and in the first round he guaranteed himself a cheque for at least A$180,000 (S$159,000) by stunning 31st seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) on a rowdy Court 6.

It was the biggest win of his career and he became the first Indian man in 35 years to beat a seeded player in a Grand Slam singles draw, matching Ramesh Krishnan’s feat in ousting defending champion Mats Wilander at Melbourne Park in 1989.

“Obviously, I’m not crying right now but at the same time it hasn’t completely sunk in,” the 26-year-old Nagal said.

“These moments you’ll go through as an athlete... Sometimes you have a good year, sometimes a bad one.

“Last year was probably one of the best years... (from having only) €900 (S$1,310), not getting into events for the first few months and relying on wild cards, to finishing inside the top 130.

“From where I started, I was pretty proud of myself to be able to give myself another chance to be here, to qualify and play a second round. It’s a good feeling.”

Like most children growing up in India, Haryana-born Nagal wanted to be a cricketer but it was his teacher father who insisted he swop the bat for a racket.

He famously took a set off Roger Federer in a first-round loss at the 2019 US Open on his Grand Slam main draw debut and reached the second round the following year before losing to eventual champion Dominic Thiem.

He has reached the first round of the Australian Open before, when he lost in straight sets to Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis in 2021, and has not made the main draw of a Grand Slam since.

Nagal, who trains in Germany, endured a tough time with injury and had hip surgery – also in 2021 – but battled back and captured two Challenger titles in 2023 to climb into the top 150.

“I’ve worked very hard with my team and I’m proud of myself to be able to handle the things I’m going through and be able to perform the way I want to,” he added.

The eyes of the world’s two most populous nations will be on his next match when Nagal takes on China’s Shang Juncheng in the second round, but he is not dwelling on the match too much.

“I want to go through this moment, take my time, enjoy being with my coach and have a conversation,” he said.

“Maybe eat a burger and call it a night.”

In other matches on Jan 16, Danish eighth seed Holger Rune came through in four sets against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka while 11th seed Casper Ruud also progressed.

German star Alexander Zverev, who will go on trial from May 31 for allegedly assaulting his former girlfriend in 2020, kept his focus to beat compatriot Dominik Koepfer 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.

The day ended with second seed Carlos Alcaraz surviving a mini scare as he edged Frenchman Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7-5) in the first set, before charging ahead in the next two sets 6-1, 6-2.

“It’s always great to play here in Australia,” said the Spaniard.

“I didn’t have a good run the years that I played here, but I enjoyed it a lot and I missed it last year (due to injury). Today I felt really good, and I enjoyed it in front of the crowd.

“I think in the first set I struggled a little bit and Richard was playing great as well. Every set, I played better and better, and in the end I think I played at quite a good level.”

Up next for the 20-year-old is Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, who beat Britain’s Dan Evans in four sets. REUTERS, AFP