Sumit Nagal secures historic win, advances to Australian Open 2024 second round
In Day 3 of Australian Open 2024, Sumit Nagal defeats Sasha Bublik 6-4, 6-2, 7-6, progressing to the second round.
Australian Open 2024, Day 3 Update: Sumit Nagal makes history, defeating World No. 27 Alexander Bublik, seeded 31st in Melbourne, in the first round. The Indian, securing his place through qualifiers, clinched the first set 6-4 and dominated the second set (6-2) to lead 2-0. Despite Bublik’s efforts in the third set, Nagal’s superior performance, especially in the tiebreak, helped the 139th-ranked Indian advance to the second round.
Having defeated Slovakia’s Alex Molcan in the qualifying final last week, Sumit Nagal secured a spot in the Australian Open main draw. Currently ranked World No. 139 in singles, this marks Nagal’s second appearance in the season’s first Grand Slam after his debut in 2021, where he lost in the opening round to Ricardas Berankis. His achievement this year is noteworthy, as no other Indian player had reached the singles main draw since Nagal’s last appearance. Nagal also participated in the US Open main draw in 2019 and 2020, notably challenging Roger Federer in 2019 and advancing to the second round in 2020. In ongoing doubles action, Yuki Bhambri and Robin Haase play Rafael Matos and Nicolás Barrientos on Court 12.
World No.1 Iga Swiatek secured a hard-fought victory over Sofia Kenin with a 7-6, 6-2 triumph at Rod Laver Arena. Men’s world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz is set to compete in a first-round match against Richard Gasquet later. Wimbledon champion Alcaraz is currently contending with Novak Djokovic for the coveted number one spot at Melbourne Park. The 20-year-old Spaniard, who defeated Djokovic in a thrilling final at the All England Club last year for his second major win, faces the Serbian great again. Since their Wimbledon encounter, Djokovic, the 10-time Melbourne winner, has emerged victorious in two subsequent clashes, including the ATP Finals in November.
Elena Rybakina, last year’s finalist and recent Brisbane International winner, confronts former world number one Karolina Pliskova. Jessica Pegula, the fifth seed, is also in action, and two-time champion Victoria Azarenka competes against Italy’s Camila Giorgi. Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu, currently ranked 296, is somewhat of an unknown after an eight-month hiatus. The British player, who surprised the tennis world with her 2021 Flushing Meadows triumph as a qualifier, has reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam only once on another occasion.
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