European Challengers 2023

[Sanjay]

There's a Good Sumit and a Bad Sumit.

Today we seem to be seeing Bad Sumit show up.

[jayakris]

Got broken at 1-3 in the third but broke back and held at 15 to even it at 3-3 in the third.

[Sanjay]

He's fighting back, Cmon Sumit!!

[jayakris]

Another break. 4-3 and serving. Two good first serves to corners falling barely out gave him trouble and he is broken. 4-4 even. Held once more, 5-5

And he breaks at 0-40 to lead 6-5. Kuzmanov is a bit tentative now, probably affected by some thigh issue. Sumit got two good netchord points in the last two games too. One that made Kuzmanov stretch for a net drop shot and it he seemed to get hurt there too.

[Sanjay]

6-5 in S3. Close it out. No excuses!

[Sanjay]

S3 6-5 30-40 was a good stroke of luck for sumit.

Now MATCH POINT!

[jayakris]

Terrific lob at 30-40 BP to save, and then a great second serve winner up the middle for MP. deuce again. Another good serve and the return is long. MP#2. Yet another great first serve winner. Game set match

Sumit apologized to Kuzmanov for (I think) the netchords. "so sorry man... it was that kind of day. yesterday I lost 8 of them" ... something like that

[Sanjay]

Sumit wins!

I could hear Kouzmanov apologize to Sumit for the net-cords. Good sportsmanship.

[jayakris]

^^^ Wasn't it Sumit saying it to Kuzmanov? I should check the recording. Anyway,

[R1] (LL) Sumit Nagal (IND,254) d. Dimitar Kuzmanov (BUL,208), 63 16 75

[Sanjay]

^^^ Wasn't it Sumit saying it to Kuzmanov? I should check the recording. Anyway,

[R1] (LL) Sumit Nagal (IND,254) d. Dimitar Kuzmanov (BUL,208), 63 16 75

I thought I heard it being said with a Euro accent. Some popups were obstructing the video. Let me check again.

[Sanjay]

Listened again, it was definitely Kouzmanov apologizing. The last net cord happened against Nagal but he recovered well. The one that hurt Kouzmanov was unfortunate but he had a few chances to negate.

Clearly a European accent and he even said "Yesterday I didn't get any, lost 8 of them". And they both wished each other good luck and Kouz apologized again. Seems like a decent bloke.

[jayakris]

Can't be, Sanjay. That was Indian accent. The loser typically never apologizes for anything. Why should he?

Plus, Kuzmanov didn't play yesterday. It had to be Sumit saying it.

[jayakris]

Some popups were obstructing the video. Let me check again.

This is something that really bothers me. So many times on these ATP videos, the popups will come up and completely block things right after the points that end the sets or matches. Can't they find a way to make it transparent or something?

[sameerph]

Only followed scores in first set and Sumit seemed to be cruising in that set. Started watching and Sumit went down 0-4. So, stopped watching and only watches score updates here. Glad that he came thru in the end.

At Troisdorf Challenger 75, Germany (Clay)

[R2] (LL) Sumit Nagal (IND,254) vs. Jan Choinski (GBR,177)

Choinski has made big move up to top 200 this year at 26 with 3 challenger SF's.

[arjun2761]

Sumit took advantage of his LL luck. Choinski is a good clay courter, so advancing further is going to be a battle.

FWIW, Strombachs also beat a seed, so Sumit did run into a hot player in the qualies like he did last week.