Sumit Nagal’s journey at the ATP 250 Winston-Salem Open ended in the first round after a straight-sets defeat to Borna Coric, 6-4, 6-2. The encounter lasted 68 minutes, where Coric, ranked 83rd, leveraged the fast and bouncy conditions at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex to his advantage.
In the opening set, Nagal managed an early break, but Coric quickly regained control, demonstrating his experience and powerful baseline game. The Croatian’s superior serving and precise shot placement were key factors that allowed him to dominate the second set.
Coric’s ability to maintain his composure and patiently wait for the right moments to strike was evident throughout the match, particularly as he capitalized on Nagal’s errors. Coric, a former Cincinnati Masters champion, secured a decisive victory over Sumit Nagal, setting the stage for a challenging second-round clash against the tournament’s top seed, Sebastian Baez.
Nagal, ranked 74th, showed flashes of his potential but was ultimately outclassed by Coric’s consistency and strategic play. This loss marks another learning experience for the Indian player as he continues to compete at higher levels.
Sumit Nagal to lead India in Davis Cup tie against Sweden
Sumit Nagal is set to lead India’s five-member team in the Davis Cup 2024 World Group I tie against Sweden. This marks his return to the Davis Cup after missing the previous tie against Pakistan in February due to his commitment to other tournaments. India will face Sweden on September 14-15 at the Royal Tennis Hall in Stockholm, where the indoor hard courts will pose a unique challenge for the team.
Nagal, currently ranked 74th in the world, will be joined by Ramkumar Ramanathan and N Sriram Balaji, with the latter stepping up as India’s top doubles player in the absence of Yuki Bhambri.
Bhambri, who ranks 48th globally in doubles, has opted out of this tie, leaving a gap that Balaji, ranked 69th, will aim to fill effectively.
