Sumit Nagal of India performs a forehand return to Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia throughout their first spherical match of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 1, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
Indian tennis ace Sumit Nagal feels he had the momentum within the third set of the Wimbledon first-round tie in opposition to higher-ranked Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia however his relative inexperience on grass value him the match.
The 26-year-old Indian, who is ready to take part in his second Olympics in lower than a month, misplaced the Wimbledon males’s singles opener to Kecmanovic, ranked 19 locations increased than him, in a marathon four-setter lasting practically three-and-a-half hours.
Nagal misplaced 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6.
The 71st-ranked from Jhajjar, making it to the Wimbledon principal draw for the primary time, gained the second set to return on even phrases however the Serbian, ranked 52nd, gained the following two to advance.
“This is my first main draw at Wimbledon, and playing on the grass surface is not easy; you need a bit of experience. But I think I did whatever I could, I fought hard. I felt like I could have served better, and there were a few things here and there in the match I could have done better,” Nagal advised Star Sports.
“Later on in the third set, the momentum was kind of shifting towards me. I think, like I said, if I could have broken him at 5-3, him serving, I think the match could have changed in a funny way.” He mentioned the SW19 expertise was the one to cherish.
“It was a great experience. Obviously, when you play for three, three-and-a-half hours, you always feel like, ‘this could have been done or that could have been done.’ But like I said, if I could have changed things in the third set, I would have really liked that (broken the opponent at 5-3).
Nagal said his aim is to keep climbing up the rankings ladder and he is looking forward to a good show at the Paris Olympics, where he will have to shift to clay courts.
“I carry on climbing the rankings. There are a couple of targets that I would like to complete, and that might be one in all them — to maintain on climbing the rankings.
“Now, I’m going back on clay to get ready for Paris. I’m looking forward to it; it’s going to be my second Olympics, and I’m super, super excited for it.” Nagal, who was ranked one hundred and sixtieth throughout the Tokyo Olympics, had misplaced in straight units to Daniil Medvedev within the second spherical.
Tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi additionally indicated that Nagal ought to have transformed half possibilities.
“Everyone’s disappointed, but he’s had a breakthrough year, he’s played high-quality tennis. That guy’s a good player and he had his chances there in the third set and that’s the way it is. In events like this, you’ve got to take your chances, otherwise, you’re going to come out on the losing end.” Former Davis Cupper Zeeshan Ali mentioned Nagal mustn’t get upset as he gave his opponent a tricky time.
“I feel that Sumit should not be very disheartened by this loss because he played a very good match. He played an incredibly good second set and he had a lot of chances.
“Going ahead, I believe he undoubtedly wants to organize higher to play in a match like Wimbledon, perhaps get a few matches in earlier than the principle draw of Wimbledon begins, and that will undoubtedly assist him put together higher,” mentioned Ali.
Source: www.thehindu.com
