WATCH: Sumit Nagal breaks down in tears as he wins the Chennai Challenger, sealing a top 100 spot for the first time!

Sumit Nagal created history by becoming first Indian since 2019 to cross the Top-100 rank.

WATCH: Sumit Nagal breaks down in tears as he wins the Chennai Challenger, sealing a top 100 spot for the first time!

Sumit Nagal broke down in tears after his win (via The Bridge/X)

Sumit Nagal, the Indian star has been one of the standout players for India after his thumping Australian Open round one win. Since then, the Indian has returned to his country to play a couple of challenger tournaments. 

Starting at the Chennai Challenger, Nagal entered as the No.2 Seed. Back off a career-best win against Alexander Bublik, the Indian motored through the Chennai Open rounds to make it to the finals. He was up against the No.1 seed Luca Nardi to try and win his third Challenger tournament. After facing so many ATP players and a near-injury scare, the Indian managed to win all his matches to make it to his 8th Challenger finals. 

YouTube video

Fresh from a heated battle against Dalibor Svrcina, Nagal pushed through the shoulder pain and made it across the finals. With great first serves and returns, Nagal put his opponent on the backfoot front at the very start, taking the lead and eventually closing out the match. He beat the Italian 6-1,6-4 in straight sets to win the tournament and get assured a top 100 ranking. With this, the Indian created history, while he broke down in tears on the court. 

FS Video

Sumit Nagal becomes the first Indian since 2019 to break the ATP top 100 mark

Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal became the first Indian since Prajnesh Gunneswaran in 2019 to break into the top 100 and make himself known among the vastly experienced ATP tour. 

Sumit Nagal
Sumit Nagal (via Imago)

Beating his opponent, the top-seeded Italian Luca Nardi in straight sets, Nagal expressed his emotions on the court. After winning the match point, the 26-year-old let it all on the court and shared the win with his team. Running to the crowd, Nagal hugged the former Indian player Somdev Devvarman to celebrate the huge milestone that lifts Indian tennis to a whole new level. 

After Rohan Bopanna’s brilliance at the Australian Open, where he created history by becoming the oldest man to win the Grand Slam, this win was important for Indian tennis. In his home country, the Indian won a challenge that boosted his ranking up into the top 100. After the Australian Open first-round win, the Indian’s ranking went up to 121, and with this Challenger win, he crossed the mark to create history. The whole nation is proud of the 26-year-old who looks to replicate this performance at the Bangalore Challenger which commences from the 12th of February. 

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