India No.1 Sumit Nagal has had a great 2023 season, moving from 503 in the ATP Rankings in the beginning of the year to around 135. He shares his thought on the season:
Credits – Canal Tenis Instagram
Q) How would you rate your season?
SN – Probably my second best season of my career. I would say my 2019 was probably my best since I finished the highest rank, and qualified for a slam (US Open). This year I’m looking at the ranking, what I’m finishing, I’m pretty excited about my season, how it went and gives me good feeling for the year ahead.
Q) Two challenger titles this year in Tampere and Rome. How do you feel about these weeks?
SN – Interesting weeks, in Rome I had to qualify, so I think that was the first time where I won a Challenger from qualifying, playing so many matches.
I didn’t really think of winning in Tampere because I was double break down in the second round from 1-4 down and the rain came, I stopped and when I came back I started playing better tennis and from there I played a clean tournament.
Q) How do you see tennis in India today? Is it a growing sport?
SN – I would say it used to be more popular before, now I think we are struggling a bit in singles, doing great in doubles as we have right now we have Rohan Bopanna in top 5.
If we could go back where we had 5 players in top 150-200, I would say that was probably one of the best times.
Q) There are many great doubles players in India, what do you think about this?
SN – I would say it’s a bit of what system we have in India, how things have worked in the past, to create more singles players, a lot of things needs to be changed.
Q) What does it mean to you to play for India?
SN – To play for my country? I mean, it’s a pride, you know. I take a lot of ego & pride in playing for India. I had opportunities to play for different countries but I would never do that. It’s tough to explain, it just feels right.
Q) What is your big goal for 2024?
SN – For sure, to play Olympics would be really nice, to play in Paris. That would be one of my biggest goals and to stay healthy, you know, because tennis for me is all about staying healthy, staying in the rhythm. If I can do that, I can play good tennis. If not, then it just becomes tough.