PTPA Executive Director credits leaders Novak Djokovic and Ons Jabeur for steering financial support as Indian No. 1 Sumit Nagal signs deal with Gatorade amid financial struggles

Sumit Nagal signs a 3 year contract with Gatorade.

PTPA Executive Director credits leaders Novak Djokovic and Ons Jabeur for steering financial support as Indian No. 1 Sumit Nagal signs deal with Gatorade amid financial struggles

Sumit Nagal (L- via: Mint) Novak Djokovic and Ons Jabeur (R- via: The Independent).

India’s No.1 player, Sumit Nagal finally found his first big sponsor in Gatorade. Delighted at this, the Executive Director of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), Ahmad Nassar, shared a tweet, expressing his happiness over this. Novak Djokovic came up with the idea of setting up a body for the players to deal with issues that were not previously dealt with by the tennis authorities. This led to the formation of the PTPA.

Earlier this year, Sumit Nagal mentioned the lack of funds in his bank account. He also complained about little or almost no support from back home either. Players like Novak Djokovic and Ons Jabeur took the initiative and started pushing the authorities to arrange better financial aid for top-rank players so that they could focus on their game without any kind of financial stress.

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Ahmad Nassar in his tweet praised the PTPA and the involvement of players like Djokovic and Jabeur in promoting better financial aid to the lower-ranked players. He shared that it was indeed a good move where a team effort by a few enhanced an individual sport.

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Nassar’s tweet read, “So glad to see this & hope it’s the first of many new sponsors. PTPA leaders like Ons Jabeur & Novak Djokovic have recently spoken up about support, getting to a place where more professional tennis players can make a living.”

The only Indian singles player to secure a European clay Challenger title this season, Sumit Nagal also disclosed that he had to use his savings to sustain himself on the ATP tour. However, Gatorade signing a 3-year contract has come as a relief to him and he can now devote all his attention to the sport.

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Sumit Nagal was frustrated with the dark and lonely side of tennis

Sumit Nagal, in a recent interview, talked about only having 900 Euros in his bank account. He also shared that he did not get much help or support from back home as well. He compared his struggles with Carlos Alcaraz and mentioned how players abroad have a proper team of 5-6 people who travel alongside them.

Sumit Nagal
Sumit Nagal (Credits: Inside Sport)

Sumit Nagal, 26, shared his financial situation with PTI, saying, “I have about 900 euros in my bank account, the same as at the start of the year. I receive support from Mr. Prashant Sutar through MAHA Tennis Foundation and a monthly salary from IOCL, but I lack a major sponsor.”

Talking about the struggles an Indian athlete has to face, Nagal said that he could not even manage to get his coach and physiotherapist to travel with him on Tour. This interview came much before Nagal got his much-needed sponsorship deal from the sports drink brand Gatorade. Now, he has a 3-year signed contract with the brand.

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