“This year, it has got better. I am controlling my emotions, not letting it affect my games,” Nagal told PTI in an interaction, assessing his 2017 season.
“In practise, it was always my goal that If I get mad in matches, the priority was to control myself. Take deep breaths, think about image, where you see yourself being happy. The more you practice the better you are going to get.”
Asked how he became so aggressive, Nagal said, “I don’t know. That’s the way I am, because I have got a lot of anger. I get mad very quickly. I am learning to control it and put that energy, where it’s going to be useful.”
Mahesh Bhupathi - “His game is going in the right direction, he is only 20-year-old. We need to remember that the Indians in general peak at 23-24. He has three four years of development in him for everything — strength, tactics, mental game. We have not had many 20-year-olds at 200 in the world before in our history of tennis, so I think these are exciting times for us, for Sumit especially.”
“Over the past year or so he was very weak on defending on the backhand, which has got a lot better. His understanding of positioning on the court in last three months, has improved. The trajectory of his career is going on the right path. That’s all we can be happy about at present.”
Nagal is set to shift his training base from Germany to Valencia in Spain, where he will practise at David Ferrer’s academy.
It looks like he may not be full time with Sumit and he may have to share him with couple of other players but he is still lucky that he has got someone good to work with him which does not happen to may Indian players.
It looks like Sumit is down to Europe now and will play a couple of $25K futures in Santa margherita di Pula, Italy and Xabia,Spain where he is top acceptance in entry lists. It will be good for him now to stay on in Europe till French open and build up his preparation with futures and challengers on clay.
$25K futures in Italy is badly affected by rain and top seeded Sumit is yet to play his first round there. He plays the qualifier 1190th ranked Italian Gabrieli and if he wins will have to play his second round too today( weather permitting).
[R2] (1) Sumit NAGAL (IND,223) vs. (Q) Franco CAPALBO (ARG,1958)
This match will be played a couple of hours from now. His opponent had a much easier R1 match which finished in 1 hour 35 mins. So, Sumit will be more tired but hopefully he will take care of his much lower ranked opponent.
[QF] (1) Sumit NAGAL (IND,223) d. Walter TRUSENDI (ITA,670) 61 60
Trusendi had upset 388th ranked Spaniard earlier today. First match got over in 1 hours 17 mins, second in 55 mins. Sum total of 2 matches shorter by 40 mins than his first round match.
Hope he continues this good form tomorrow.
[SF] (1) Sumit NAGAL (IND,223) vs. (6) Thiemo DE BAKKER (NED,340)
De Bakker is a former top 50 player but is not playing at that level of late but still can be a threat at futures/challenge level.