India No.1 Sumit Nagal broke yet another record by becoming the first Indian in 42 years to compete in the singles main draw of the prestigious Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, one of the three clay court Masters 1000 events on the ATP calendar. Nagal did so by beating 55th ranked Facundo Diaz Acosta from Argentina in the final qualifying round, 7-5 2-6 6-2.
The last time an Indian player graced the courts of Monte Carlo in the singles main draw was in 1982, when Ramesh Krishnan competed but fell short in the opening round. Nagal’s achievement, therefore, breaks a decades-long hiatus for Indian representation in one of tennis’s prestigious events.
Nagal had earlier beaten 8th seeded and 63rd ranked Flavio Cobolli from Italy in the first qualifying round on Saturday.
As Nagal prepares to compete in the main draw of the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, tennis fans eagerly anticipate his performance and hope for more historic moments on the court. His 1st round opponent in the main draw is yet to be determined.
[…] for Nagal. His other two appearances came in Indian Wells (l. to Raonic) and Monte-Carlo, where he became the first Indian in 42 years to qualify for the main draw. He also became the first Indian ever to win a main draw match there, eventually losing to the then […]