Sumit Nagal made waves at the Australian Open earlier this year, notably defeating World No. 27 Alexander Bublik in a stunning upset, marking a significant milestone for Indian tennis.
Now, the 26-year-old talent sets his sights on securing a place at the Paris Olympics, sharing insights into his preparations in an exclusive interview.
Reflecting on the contrasting conditions between the Australian Open and the upcoming Olympics in Paris, scheduled for July, Nagal acknowledges the differences in court surfaces, ball types, and overall playing environments.
However, he emphasizes that his experience in a Grand Slam event has bolstered his confidence and determination to continually enhance his performance.
“The Olympics is on clay. So, playing the Australian Open in January and playing the Olympics at the end of July in Paris is very different. The conditions are different, the courts are different, and the balls are different.
Of course, playing in a slam gives you confidence, and the aim will be to carry the confidence for the whole year. Keep on improving and give myself a chance to perform at a very high level.”
Following his remarkable display in Melbourne and a triumph in Chennai, Nagal witnessed a remarkable surge in his rankings, breaking into the top 100 for the first time in his career last month.
Joining the ranks of only 10 other Indian players to achieve this milestone, Nagal sets his sights on securing a spot in the Paris Olympics.
“For the Olympics in tennis, you need to have a certain ranking. The cut will be between the top 80 and the top 90. The goal will be to get the ranking up there. I need to keep on performing; keep on doing well in the tournaments so I can participate in the Olympics.”
