Sumit Nagal thread

[sameerph]

Sumit will now be playing the 3 week challenger circuit in US on green clay in next 3 weeks. He just sneaked into the main draw of Sarasota Challenger next week and is in the main draw of Savannah challenger in third week. I think 1-2 spots out from second week at Tallahasse and may make it in directly.

After not getting much chance to play in the first quarter, Sumit will be getting a lot of chances to play on challenger tour now in the busier period with more challengers per week. Hope in that period he gets his ranking up to inside 300 at least so he does not have to go back to transition tour later.

[jaydeep]

Sumit moves back to the European challengers and playing in Rome ... In the first round, he is facing an American Ulises Blanch.

At $54K+H Rome Challenger 2019, Italy

[R1] Sumit Nagal (IND,332) vs Ulises Blanch (USA,296)

[sameerph]

Sumit lost in straight sets.

At $54K+H Rome Challenger 2019, Italy

[R1] Sumit Nagal (IND,303) l. Ulises Blanch (USA,290) 26 57

Was fully expecting this loss. From his updates, It seems he arrived in Rome just a few hours before the match after playing loads of matches in last 3 weeks in US. This was also his 5th straight week ( 1 week in Europe and 3 weeks in US followed by this week). No way he should have tried to play here.

[arjun2761]

Yes, may be a blessing in disguise as he gets most of this week off. Playing when fatigued is when you often play with poor form and that results in injury...

However, hopefully he can continue his US form in the next several weeks...

[arjun2761]

Hopefully, Sumit will be back in action soon.

He should be encouraged by the fact that Frenchman Moutet has made the 3rd round at the French Open as Sumit and Moutet had split two close matches in the last couple of months on clay. This should give him confidence that he too could have a breakout performance soon if he keeps working at it...

[sameerph]

Yes, Sumit will be encouraged by that showing of Moutet.

As of now, Sumit just made it in the entry list of $81K(+H) Challenger in Poznan,Poland. Next target for Sumit would be making the cut for US open qualies draw. Assuming a cut-off of around 240-245, Sumit would need around 55-60 points in the next 7 weeks to make the cut. I think he will continue to play in Europe on clay and a good run in couple of weeks can take him there.

[sameerph]

Sumit back on the tour this week.

At $81K(+H) Poznan Challenger, Poland

[R1] Sumit Nagal (IND,280) vs. Constant Lestienne (FRA,192)

Tough match for Sumit against a Frenchman on clay.

[jaydeep]

An excellent win by Sumit against the top-200 Frenchman, Lestienne, in three sets ... Next, another tough match against the top-175 Italian, Alessandro Giannessi.

At €69K+H Poznan Challenger 2019, Poland

[R1] Sumit Nagal (IND,280) bt Constant Lestienne (FRA,192) 63 57 63

[R2] Sumit Nagal (IND,280) vs (13) Alessandro Giannessi (ITA,164)

[arjun2761]

Good luck to Sumit. He is clearly playing at a top 200 level (or even better), so just needs a couple of good runs to get there. Hopefully, this will be one of those runs...

[sameerph]

Yes, another very good win on clay by Sumit. Next match is tough one though. Gianessi won a challenger title last week in Italy winning all his matches in straight sets. So, he looks in prime form.

[jaydeep]

Sumit gave another excellent fighting performance against an in-form Alessandro Giannessi in three sets loss ... After losing the first set Sumit fought back to win the second ... But he failed to complete win in this long match.

At €69K+H Poznan Challenger 2019, Poland

[R2] Sumit Nagal (IND,280) l (13) Alessandro Giannessi (ITA,164) 57 63 36

[arjun2761]

Good to see that Sumit is still playing at a very good level. Hopefully, he'll win matches like this to go on a deep run (final/title) to get into the to top 200 and a new career high in the next couple of months.

Don't see his game doing well on grass, but he should be able to do well on some of the slower hard courts.

[sameerph]

Sumit is playing in France this week.

At $108K Lyon Challenger, France (Clay)

[R1] Sumit Nagal (IND,272) vs. Hugo Nys (MON,335)

[jaydeep]

Sumit started with a comfortable win over Nys ... Next, he is facing the top-160 Frenchman, Quentin Halys.

At € 92K+H Lyon Challenger 2019, France

[R1] Sumit Nagal (IND,280) bt (Alt) Hugo Nys (MON,337) 64 62

[R2] Sumit Nagal (IND,280) vs (8) Quentin Halys (FRA,159)

[arjun2761]

Confident win by Sumit!

Halys has been doing well at the challenger level on clay with a runners-up finish and multiple QFs this year. So, a tough match-up but one which Sumit can win...