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IMAGE: Having damaged into the top-100, Sumit Nagal units his eyes on the Olympics. {Photograph}: Ciro De Luca/Reuters
His dream of being inside the worldwide top-100 has been realised however Sumit Nagal is nowhere near being a content material man because the Indian tennis ace says he now faces the problem of enhancing or holding on to his standing for direct entry into Grand Slams and the Paris Olympics.
Nagal’s victory within the current Chennai Open propelled him to a career-high world No. 98, and he’s the primary Indian to attain the feat since Prajnesh Gunneswaran did that in 2019.
“Each tennis participant goals about being within the high 100. I’ve dreamt about being within the high 100 from a really younger age and it felt excellent when it occurred. It was actually an emotional day after working for years,” Nagal informed PTI in an interview after his first-round win within the Bengaluru Open on Tuesday evening.
The 26-year-old, who’s seeded second in Bengaluru, entered the second spherical of the match with a breezy 6-2, 6-2 win over Frenchman Geff Blancaneaux.
However he’s not able to relaxation on his laurels and has set his eyes on greater achievements.
“Sure, it was an enormous second (coming into high 100). However now I’m in a brand new match, you realize, tennis, it is advisable take it week by week. So, feelings have come down now. Whereas in Bangalore I’m specializing in this match.
“However the actual aim is to go and signify my nation within the Olympics. It is certainly one of my targets, and it actually motivates me and I actually wish to play the Olympics, and take a medal again for the nation,” he stated.
High 56 gamers within the ATP (males) and WTA (ladies) rankings, as on June 10 this yr, will get direct qualification for the July-August Paris Video games supplied the quantity per nation doesn’t exceed 4.
Entries can be permitted from outdoors the top-56 for international locations who’ve lower than 4 computerized qualifiers.
The remaining eight slots of the 64-strong draw can be reserved for continental champions (4), earlier Olympic gold-medallists or Grand Slam champions (2), host nation (1) and Universality (1).
Nagal would have a superb probability of creating it if he can add some extra good outcomes to his report.
Staying inside the highest 100 could have one other profit for the Haryana-born lad as he would now not want to attend for qualifiers or wildcards to enter the primary draw of Grand Slams.
Final month, he had made the Australian Open predominant draw by means of qualifiers and defeated the then world No. 31 Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (5) within the first spherical.
“Yeah, that is an enormous optimistic (being within the high 100). That is why each participant desires to be inside the highest 100 since you wish to play within the Grand Slams,” he stated.
“So, if I can do this, and hold my rating up and inside the highest 100, that might be excellent for me as we’re quick approaching the French Open season,” he added.
Not way back, Nagal was struggling to draw sponsors and was left with a meagre USD 900 in his checking account.
However being within the high 100 is about to fetch him more cash from the ATP gamers’ fund, which is able to go a great distance in serving to him meet his bills on the Tour.
“It’s a huge assist to be within the high 100 financially. That is one of many explanation why gamers wish to be within the high 100 as a result of the cash allocation is increased as per your rating factors, and it helps you all year long,” he defined.
“I’m no totally different right here. I might like to, you realize, hold pushing and keep within the high 100 rating the place I can get myself an opportunity to play within the Slams and likewise take the advantages that come together with it,” stated Nagal.
He is likely to be in a superb house after his exploits within the Australian Open and three Challenger titles up to now 9 months however Nagal says he can always remember the huge battle he endured within the final couple of years.
‘2021-22 have been the hardest’
He needed to keep away from tennis for six months following a hip surgical procedure and likewise noticed his rankings plummet to 638 by the top of 2022.
Nagal stated these robust occasions instilled plenty of dedication in him.
“I’ve at all times spoken extremely about having a superb staff and having good associates round you, household too, as a result of the summers of 2021 and 2022 have been the hardest in my life. I am very glad that I had these folks round me in order that I may get out of that darkish zone or gap,” he recalled.
“They helped me hold my mindset easy, specializing in the current and never worrying an excessive amount of concerning the future. They have been telling me simply go to a court docket and begin hitting the balls and ‘you’ll be higher’, and that is precisely what I did,” he elaborated.
Nagal’s confidence was evident by means of the opening spherical fixture towards Blancaneaux right here on the KSLTA courts final evening.
“Nothing to complain about, to be trustworthy, and I’m feeling good and motivated. I’m simply desirous to proceed to play on this method for the approaching week and months,” he signed off.
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