Melbourne: Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal achieved a remarkable triumph on Tuesday as he secured a straight sets victory over Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik in the first round of the Australian Open 2024 men’s singles event at Melbourne Park.
The victory carries historic significance as it is the first time since 1989 that an Indian tennis player has defeated a seeded opponent in a Grand Slam. The last instance was in 1989, when Ramesh Krishnan overcame top seed and defending champion Mats Wilander in the second round of the Australian Open.
Furthermore, the 26-year-old Nagal, currently ranked World No. 137, showcased his prowess in the Australian Open by defeating his World No. 27 opponent with a convincing scoreline of 6-4, 6-2, 7(7)-6(5) in a thrilling encounter that lasted two hours and 38 minutes. This victory marks Nagal’s first entry into the second round of the Australian Open, having previously reached the main draw in 2021 but bowed out in the opening round.
Alexander Bublik, seeded 31st in the 2024 Australian Open men’s singles draw, fell victim to Nagal’s determined performance, adding to the Indian player’s growing list of achievements on the international tennis stage.
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