Sumit Nagal defeats Corentin Moutet, advances to Round of 16 at Marrakech Open

Sumit Nagal, the highest-ranked male tennis player from India, recently demonstrated his skill on clay courts by advancing to the Round of 16 at the ATP 250 event, the Marrakech Open, which took place in Morocco.

Starting off his clay season, Nagal, ranked 95th globally, emerged victorious in a challenging match against French opponent Corentin Moutet, who was placed four spots lower. In an exciting showdown, Nagal overcame a set deficit to claim a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph, marking his initial victory at the Tour level since the Australian Open.

Upon reviewing his performance, Nagal conveyed contentment with his game, specifically in the second and third sets. He emphasized his powerful serves and bold shot selection, which allowed him to gain an advantage over Moutet.

The triumph also marked a form of redemption for Nagal, as he had previously been defeated by the same opponent in a Challenger final held in Helsinki last year.

“I think I played a really good match, especially the second and third sets. I served well, went for my shots and today, it went more in my favour than the last time we played in Helsinki,” Nagal said after the match (via PTI News).

Future plans for Sumit Nagal

Looking towards the future, Sumit Nagal is set to compete against fourth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the Round of 16, ensuring an exciting match between these two skilled players. Nagal is confident in his abilities and must be ready to confront the obstacles presented by his strong adversary.

At the U.S Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston, Indian players Anirudh Chandrasekar and N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth made headlines. They advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating local wildcards Michael Mmoh and Frances Tiafoe, who was the third seed in the men’s singles event in Houston.

Meanwhile, at the ITF women’s event in Kashiwa, Japan, Ankita Raina displayed her tenacious spirit despite a challenging first-round defeat. Despite enduring a grueling match against Ya-Hsuan Lee from Chinese Taipei, Raina exhibited unwavering resilience and determination. Additionally, she achieved success in the doubles division, advancing to the quarterfinals alongside her partner Chia Yi Tsao from Chinese Taipei.

Nagal’s impressive win in Marrakech is a promising indication of his performance in the clay season and showcases the growing global presence of Indian tennis. As Nagal continues to progress in his professional journey, fans eagerly anticipate his future matches and success on the ATP Tour, building upon his historic performance at the 2024 Australian Open.