Sumit Nagal created history by winning the ATP Challenger title in Rome. He became the first Indian ever to win an ATP Challenger title on European clay. What made the feat all the more impressive is that Nagal came through qualifying, and won 7 matches in 8 days. He lost just 2 sets along the way.
His results this week –
[Q1] (12) Sumit Nagal (IND,347) d. Jacepo Berretini (ITA,442) 64 61
[Q2] (12) Sumit Nagal (IND,347) d. (2) Victor Durasovic (NOR,302) 75 57 62
[R1] (Q) Sumit Nagal (IND,347) d. (4) Francesco Maestrelli (ITA,172) 62 64
[R2] (Q) Sumit Nagal (IND,347) d. (WC) Fausto Tabacco (ITA,495) 63 60
[QF] (Q) Sumit Nagal (IND,347) d. (Alt) Max Houkes (NED,303), 75 60
[SF] (Q) Sumit Nagal (IND,347) d. (8) Joris De Loore (BEL,198), 26 75 64
[F] (Q) Sumit Nagal (IND,347) d. Jesper De Jong (NED,234) 63 62
It is worth noting that Ramesh Krishnan won the ATP Stuttgart Open on clay in 1982, but that was an ATP Tour level event.
