Article
24 Jul 2021
Nagal first Indian man to notch Olympic singles win in 25 years
24 Jul 2021
Sumit Nagal may be the world No. 160, but he isn’t in Japan for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games simply to make up the numbers.
On Saturday, with a draining 6-4 6-7(6) 6-4 first round victory over Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, the 23-year-old made history as the first Indian man to win an Olympic singles match since Leander Paes claimed Bronze at Atlanta 1996 – 25 years ago.
“Wow, I didn’t know that. You’re the first one to tell me,” Nagal told ITFTennis.com after his triumph, in two hours and 34 minutes. “I don’t have words. I’m just happy to be able to be here, to be able to perform. To play for my country. That’s what I’m looking for in my next match as well, to have India written on my back and play for my nation.”
Nagal’s reward for his efforts at the Ariake Tennis Park is a second round clash with Daniil Medvedev, who kept his cool during a 6-4 7-6(8) victory over Alexander Bublik in sweltering conditions in the second match on Centre Court.
The Extreme Weather Policy has been in effect throughout the opening day of the Olympic Tennis Event – granting players a 10-minute break before the third set.
For Nagal, registering a landmark win in such energy-sapping conditions has given him confidence ahead of facing world No. 2 Medvedev for the first time.
“[I’m] a little bit tired, I’m not going to lie, but I’m happy that I pulled it off,” Nagal said. “One good thing about playing for almost three hours [in these conditions] is that you know that you can do it.
“You know that your body was there to do it. Of course it’s tiring, but that’s normal. If you play for three hours in this weather – nobody will come out and say ‘yeah, I’m fresh’. But to come out of it and not have any injuries, and to not give up… that’s where the confidence comes.
“That’s why I feel good about it.”