From a promising junior to a fierce competitor on the world stage, Sumit Nagal has steadily emerged as one of India’s brightest tennis prospects. Born on August 16, 1997, the Haryana-based athlete made headlines early in his career by becoming the sixth Indian to win a junior Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2015, partnering with Vietnam’s Ly Hoang Nam in the boys’ doubles category.
His rapid ascent continued as he donned national colors at the Davis Cup in 2016 and again in 2019, showcasing his grit and growing potential. In 2017, Nagal captured his first ATP Challenger title in Bengaluru, Karnataka—cementing his place as one to watch on the professional circuit.
A finalist at the 2018 Indoor Asian Games in the doubles event, Nagal added a second ATP Challenger trophy to his name in 2019 with a hard-fought victory in Buenos Aires, Argentina. But it was later that year that he truly caught global attention—earning a spot in the main draw of the US Open and facing none other than 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in the opening round. In a match that electrified fans, Nagal stunned the tennis world by snatching the first set from the Swiss maestro before bowing out in four.
Nagal made history again at the 2020 US Open by becoming the first Indian since 2013 to win a main draw singles match at a Grand Slam, defeating Bradley Klahn of the USA in the opening round. His steady rise earned him a wild-card entry into the 2021 Australian Open, one of only eight players globally to receive the honor that year. Though he exited in the first round after a straight-sets loss to Lithuania’s Ričardas Berankis, the experience added another valuable milestone to his growing career.
With his aggressive baseline play and fierce determination, Sumit Nagal is widely regarded as a beacon of hope for Indian men’s tennis. As he continues to gain momentum on the ATP Tour, fans and experts alike are betting on him to break new ground for Indian tennis in the years to come.
