Sumit Nagal’s recent surge into the top 100 rankings and beyond not only reflects his physical prowess, but also unveils a narrative of mental fortitude and resilience. Beyond the thunderous forehands lies a profound story of triumph over mental challenges, a story significantly shaped by the guiding hand of Dr. Cynthia Hucks-Smith, his sports psychologist.
In this exclusive interview, we delve into Sumit’s extraordinary journey, unraveling the pivotal and unseen role that Dr. Hucks-Smith has played—a force that has propelled Nagal to the top 100.
Q) Please tell us a little about yourself and your journey so far
CHS – I am a clinical psychologist with a specialization in sport & performance which allows us to smoothly transition from facing mental struggles to work performance. In the US not all people that work in sport have doctoral level clinical training.
I’m also a former college athlete, just like my husband and all four of our children! While working as a teacher for the past 34 years, I’ve also dedicated myself to education, spending 12 years in total pursuing my degrees. I started with an undergraduate degree in childhood education, followed by a master’s in learning differences. My passion for understanding the human mind then led me to pursue a doctorate in psychology, where I had the incredible opportunity to learn from Dr. Richard Suinn, the first psychologist for the US Olympics, in the 1980s. This experience sparked my interest in specializing in sports psychology, which I’ve been doing ever since.
Q) When did you start working with Sumit? What was he like then?
CHS – In 2019, I first met Milos (Galecic), his fitness trainer, and learned about Sumit, Somdev (Devvarman),Sascha (Nensel), Nensel Academy, & their evaluation of Sumit’s potential.
Milos introduced me to Sumit at the Savannah Challenger. Sumit had only worked briefly as a teen in Canada with a psychophysiological psychologist whom I respect. So an easy transition for us & we “hit it off immediately.”
Sumit had one piece of the puzzle missing (Sports Psychology) & more importantly he had a solid team and all characteristics needed to excel once he learned how to handle pressure, use mental skills & become resilient on court. He was eager to learn and believed in the value of our work.
95 days into our work, Sumit qualified for the 2019 US Open. From being ranked 346 when we met to being ranked 190 to qualify for the US Open 95 days later. Covid, injuries & surgery have delayed the progress in reaching where he is today.
From Left – Dr Cynthia Hucks-Smith, coach Sascha Nensel, Sumit Nagal
Q) Sumit has gone on record to say that he was going through a very tough mental phase during his hip surgery recovery period. How were you able to manage to keep him positive during that period?
CHS – It was much more complicated than just staying positive. There was no income as he recovered, he had to learn to walk again, & he had to regain strength as he learned more about managing the uncertainty associated with trusting his body to handle the physical demands of tennis.
With poor/almost non-existent support from sponsors & the Indian tennis federation, our team (including Sumit) tackled getting him reimbursement from his ATP health insurance; formed a US based nonprofit for him and for young athletes to excel in their sport, as well as doing what it takes to get healthier, stronger & more skilled than before surgery. Having a confidential relationship between Sumit and me prevents disclosure of details. Yet, all of us need unconditional support to move past what life throws at us in dark times.
After qualifying for the 2019 US Open, where he went on to play Federer
Q) Sumit has also said that he’s become much calmer on court than he was a few years back. How were you able to help him achieve that?
CHS – Credit goes to Sumit for seeing the big picture and how to use his energy productively on court. Sumit has matured quite a bit in the last several years. As the saying goes, “what does not kill you, makes you stronger!”
Sumit is a great student of the game and learns/gains insights quickly. He also had enough motivation to do what it takes mentally, physically & strategically to recover from hip surgery, as well as other minor injuries over the last 5 years.
Calmness is critical in the game of tennis. All attention must be focused on adjusting as soon as possible to each shot while maintaining your strategy or knowing when to try plan B. Tennis is now a very strategic game so there is no room for emotion to stall reflexive actions/decision-making.
Q) You also run an organization called Whole Health Optimization. Can you tell us a little about that?
CHS – I run a multidisciplinary performance & health practice. Our focus is on optimal performance and a more speedy recovery. Our clients are diverse: from the military (overcoming PTSD or injury) to athletes across the lifespan to medical patients recovering from accidents, surgeries, invasive treatments or issues such as inflammation, pain, burns, stroke, fractures, or skin problems.
Our equipment includes hyperbaric oxygen therapy, photobiomodulation, & pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. Our services also include counseling, fitness training, nutrition & sleep consults, as well as sports psychology.
Q) Sumit has just cracked the top 100. Things are looking up. But it’s also important to stay focused mentally. How will you approach this next phase with him?
CHS – I do not see this as a new phase. Chasing 61 has been the target from day one & Somdev (Devvarman) is a huge mentor, as are Bops (Bopanna) & Mahesh (Bhupathi).
It has always been our goal to work as a team “one shot or one ball at a time” regardless of the conditions, the opponent, the rank. One can manage only what one can control. The plan for Sumit’s entire career is to continue improving & reach for the “stars”!