Ahead of the 2020 season, rising Indian star Sumit Nagal has his eyes set on the Olympic Games main draw.
Nagal had a brilliant season this past year, the highlight of which was stealing a set from tennis legend Roger Federer at the US Open round one match. Although Nagal lost the match, it was the impressive feat of starting the match with one set ahead which not many have achieved against the former world no.1 that set him apart.
For the 22-year-old, this season was especially important because it was the first time in the past five years that he was able to play without any major injuries. Nagal was ecstatic looking back at the season saying:
“This is the first time in the last five years that I’ve played a whole year without getting injured.”
This upcoming season brings with it the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and the young Indian has made it his focus to qualify for the first time.
For qualification into the main draw, Nagal needs to be ranked between 80-85 which he will have to achieve before June 8. Nagal is currently ranked at 130, not too far behind his goal for the coming season.
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Given his impressive career so far, fans can hope that Nagal makes it to the main draw of tennis in Olympics 2020.
Nagal had won the 2015 Wimbledon Boys’ doubles title and reached reached the finals at the Challenger event in Banja Luka and won his first Challenger of the year in Argentina. He achieved his career-high ranking of 127 in November.
Currently training before the season begins in Melbourne, Nagal is hopeful that he will improve his rankings this year and have an injury-free season.
Another possible Olympic hopeful is India’s Prajnesh Gunneswaran who achieved his best ranking yet early this year after qualifying for the Australian Open. Gunneswaran was the top Indian player ranked at 75. Although his season ended with slipping down to the rank of 124, the coming season will see him fight for his previous rank and hopefully qualify for the 2020 Games.
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