Arguably the best males’s singles tennis participant in India at current, Sumit Nagal shocked world quantity 27 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in straight units on Tuesday to enter the Australian Open second spherical for the primary time in his profession. The 26-year-old Nagal, who made it to the principle draw via the qualifiers, beat thirty first seed Bublik 6-4 6-2 7-6(7-5) in a gruelling match that lasted two hours and 38 minutes. As Nagal made historical past within the first Grand Slam of the 12 months, cricketer Dinesh Karthik showered reward on social media.

“Sumit Nagal serves up a historic efficiency as soon as once more, successful the primary spherical on the #AusOpen by defeating World No. 31 in straight sets-an excellent effort with not a single double fault,” Karthik wrote on X.

“This marks the primary time an Indian has crushed a seeded participant in a Grand Slam since 1989. All of us ought to pay attention to his journey on this uncompromising world of Professional Tennis, full of laborious work, perception, and dedication. Go properly,” he added.

Sumit Nagal serves up a historic efficiency as soon as once more, successful the primary spherical on the #AusOpen by defeating World No. 31 in straight units—an excellent effort with not a single double fault. This marks the primary time an Indian has crushed a seeded participant in a Grand Slam since… pic.twitter.com/Z4O57NUk1P

— DK (@DineshKarthik) January 16, 2024

Nagal’s win on Tuesday was the primary time in 35 years that an Indian beat a seeded participant in a Grand Slam.

The final time it occurred was again in 1989 when Ramesh Krishnan received over Mats Wilander, the then world primary and defending champion on the Australian Open.

The win additionally ensured Nagal’s first ever development to the second spherical of the season’s first Grand Slam. In 2021, he had misplaced 2-6, 5-7, 3-6 to Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis within the opening spherical.

The world quantity 137 Indian shall be taking part in within the second spherical of a Grand Slam for the second time in his profession.

Within the 2020 US Open, Nagal had misplaced to second seed and eventual champion Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 within the second spherical.

Nagal was off to a powerful begin as he broke Bublik within the first sport of the match however he additionally failed to carry on to his personal serve subsequent because the scoreline learn 1-1.

The Indian then broke his opponent’s serve twice to take the opening set 6-4 in 42 minutes.

Nagal performed even higher within the second set as he broke serve of his opponent twice whereas holding his personal all via to win 6-2 in 43 minutes.

Within the third set, each the gamers held their serve until the seventh sport when Nagal broke his opponent to take a 4-3 lead. He then cruised forward at 5-3.

The Indian then served for the match at 5-4 however failed to carry. The third set went into the tie-breaker with Nagal ultimately successful 7-5.

Nagal had made it to the principle draw with a 6-4 6-4 win over Slovakia’s Alex Molcan within the match’s qualifying last on Friday.

Nagal made his Slam debut within the 2019 US Open in opposition to the long-lasting Roger Federer. He took a set off the Swiss large however misplaced the match 6-4, 1-6, 2-6, 4-6 ultimately. Within the first spherical of the 2020 US Open, Nagal had crushed American Bradley Klahn 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to change into the primary Indian to win a Grand Slam singles match after Somdev Devvarman (2013).

With PTI inputs