New Delhi, – India’s Sumit Nagal secured his place in the second round of the tennis tournament on Tuesday, marking a positive start for the home nation at the ATP Challenger 75 event. The tournament, held at the DLTA Complex, is running from to , featuring 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams.
Nagal, currently ranked 297th in the world, overcame Spain’s David Jorda Sanchis in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, in a match lasting one hour and 27 minutes. The victory represents Nagal’s first win at the Delhi Open, a milestone he acknowledged with satisfaction. “I’m really happy with the win. It’s my first win in Delhi. It’s been long due,” Nagal stated. “It feels great to play at home. It was an incredible crowd and I look forward to playing on Thursday.”
However, the day’s results were mixed for Indian players, with Manas Dhamne (18 years old), Manish Sureshkumar and Digvijay Singh all suffering defeats in their opening-round matches. These losses underscore the challenges facing emerging Indian talent against established international competition.
The tournament also witnessed a significant upset as top seed Dane Sweeny of Australia was eliminated by Kazakhstan’s Beibit Zhukayev. Zhukayev, ranked 292nd, rallied from a set down to defeat Sweeny, the world No. 134, with a score of 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-2. This result highlights the unpredictable nature of Challenger-level tournaments, where rankings do not always guarantee success.
Elsewhere in the tournament, second seed Rei Sakamoto of Japan and third seed Jay Clarke of Great Britain both advanced to the second round. Sakamoto defeated Frederico Ferreira Silva of Portugal 6-2, 6-2, while Clarke secured a hard-fought victory over Polish qualifier Maks Kasnikowski, winning 7-6, 6-4.
The Delhi Open has a notable history for Indian tennis, with Somdev Devvarman being the only Indian singles champion, having won consecutive titles in and . The tournament continues to serve as a crucial platform for both established and emerging players to gain valuable ranking points and competitive experience.
In doubles competition, Indian pairs Saketh Myneni/Sanam Singh and Yuki Bhambri/Mahesh Bhupathi have previously found success at the Delhi Open, winning titles in and , respectively. The ongoing tournament will determine whether Indian players can replicate this success in the current edition.
Detailed Results from Tuesday’s Matches:
- Beibit Zhukayev (KAZ) bt. [1] Dane Sweeny (AUS) 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-2
- [2] Rei Sakamoto (JPN) bt. Frederico Ferreira Silva (POR) 6-2, 6-2
- [3] Jay Clarke (GBR) bt. [Q] Maks Kasnikowski (POL) 7-6, 6-4
- [8] Rio Noguchi (JPN) bt. [WC] Manas Dhamne (IND) 7-5, 6-4
- Sumit Nagal (IND) bt. [Alt] David Jorda Sanchis (ESP) 6-3, 7-5
- Alastair Gray (GBR) bt. [Q] Hyeon Chung (KOR) 6-0, 7-6 (6)
- Petr Bar Biryukov bt. [WC] Digvijaypratap Singh (IND) 6-3, 6-4
- Dimitar Kuzmanov (BUL) bt. [PR] Philip Sekulic (AUS) 6-4, 7-5
- [PR] Ilya Ivashka bt. [Alt] Sanhui Shin (KOR) 6-3, 6-3
- [Q] Alexandr Binda (ITA) bt. [Q] Denis Yevseyev (KAZ) 6-7 (7), 6-1, 6-2
- Stefanos Sakellaridis (GRE) bt. [Q] Manish Sureshkumar (IND) 6-4, 7-5
The Delhi Open continues to provide a valuable platform for players seeking to climb the ATP rankings and gain experience in a competitive environment. The tournament’s progression will be closely watched by tennis enthusiasts in India and around the world.
