NEW DELHI: Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal displayed resilience and determination but ultimately succumbed to South Korea's Seong-chan Hong in a hard-fought encounter during the final qualifying round of the Indian Wells Masters.
Despite a spirited fight, the 26-year-old Nagal faced a tough defeat with a scoreline of 6-2, 2-6, 6-7 (4-7) on Tuesday, ending his bid to qualify for the prestigious tournament.
Nagal had shown promise earlier in the tournament, overcoming American wildcard Stefan Dostanic in straight sets in his opening match. The India No. 1 singles player secured a convincing victory with a score of 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the qualifying stage.
Although Nagal couldn't clinch victory in the final qualifying round, his commendable performance ensured him of valuable rewards. By reaching this stage, Nagal secured 10 ranking points and earned USD 14,400 in prize money.
The Indian tennis ace has been making waves in the sport recently, notably becoming the first Indian men's singles player in a decade to progress to the second round of the Australian Open.
Additionally, Nagal claimed the Chennai Challengers title, a victory that propelled him into the top 100 rankings. However, he faced setbacks in subsequent tournaments in Pune and Dubai.
Despite the disappointment in Indian Wells, Nagal's resilience and achievements reflect his growing stature in the world of tennis, and he remains a promising prospect for Indian tennis on the international stage.
(With inputs from PTI)
