India’s top-ranked singles tennis player, Sumit Nagal, is set to face Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac in the opening round of the Australian Open 2025, which begins on Sunday, January 12. Ranked 96th in the ATP rankings, Nagal secured his spot in the main draw by virtue of being among the top 104 players in the world.
This marks his second consecutive appearance in the main draw of the Australian Open, following his impressive performance last year when he defeated the 27th-ranked Alexander Bublik in straight sets before losing to China’s Juncheng Shang in the next round.
Sumit Nagal’s form in recent times
Nagal’s preparation for the Grand Slam included participation in the Auckland ASB Classic, where he faced a tough match against USA’s Alex Michelsen, ultimately losing 7-6 (8), 4-6, 2-6 in a gruelling two-hour, 40-minute battle. Despite the early exit, Nagal’s performance in the tune-up tournament provided valuable match practice ahead of the Australian Open.
On the other side of the net, Tomas Machac, ranked 26th, is known for his strong performances on the tour. Machac reached his maiden Tour-level final in Geneva and stunned four-time Major winner Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters last year. He also won the gold medal in mixed doubles at the Paris Olympics with Katerina Siniakova.
India no1 Nagal vs Seed no26 Machac
Sumit Nagal will have a difficult task on hand when he takes the court for his #AustrarianOpen round1 match.
The Czech has wins over Djokovic 🇷🇸 Rublev 🇷🇺 Dimitrov 🇧🇬 Alcaraz 🇪🇸 Paul 🇺🇸 last year pic.twitter.com/lsP1lqxZle
— IndiaSportsHub (@IndiaSportsHub) January 9, 2025
This will be the first time Nagal and Machac face each other on the court, and a victory for Nagal could set up a second-round clash against big-serving American Reilly Opelka. Nagal’s journey in the tournament will be closely watched by fans, especially considering his breakout season last year and his historic win over a seeded player at a Grand Slam.
Nagal’s participation in the Australian Open is particularly significant as he is the only Indian player in the singles category this year. His performance will be crucial in showcasing Indian talent on the global stage and potentially advancing further in the tournament.
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