MELBOURNE: India's Sumit Nagal secured a spot in the singles main draw of the Australian Open by registering a comfortable victory over Slovakia's Alex Molcan in the final round of the qualifying tournament.
Nagal confidently sailed past Molcan with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-4, wrapping up the match in two hours and three minutes. The crucial breakthrough came when his opponent double-faulted at 30-40 in the 10th game of the second set.
The upcoming challenge for Nagal involves a first-round encounter with Kazakhstan's World No. 31, Alexander Bublik.
Ranked at World No. 139 in singles, this marks Nagal's second appearance in the main draw of the season's opening Grand Slam, following his entry in 2021. Last year, he faced a defeat in the first round against Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis.
Nagal has previously earned main draw berths at the US Open in 2019 and 2020. Notably, in 2019, he put up a spirited fight against the legendary Roger Federer, stretching the match to four sets at Flushing Meadows.
In 2020, Nagal advanced to the second round of the US Open by defeating Bradley Klahn in the first round with a score of 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. However, his journey was halted by the second seed and eventual champion, Dominic Thiem, with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round.
Sania Mirza, the two-time Australian Open winner, and Somdev Devvarman will be part of the Sony Sports Network’s broadcast.
"The Australian Open tournament holds a special place in my heart, as I made my Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in 2005. The Grand Slam continues to be a strong platform for players to showcase their talent, and this year's tournament will feature both emerging talents and established stars lighting up the court," Sania said.
"I am looking forward to being a part of Extraaa Serve on Sony Sports Network as a panelist throughout the tournament. Throughout the broadcast, we will bring fans closer to all the live action in Australia and also present behind-the-scenes moments of this sporting spectacle," she said.
Australian Open ScheduleThe tournament, scheduled from Sunday, January 14, 2024, to Sunday, January 28, 2024, will captivate fans as Melbourne Park hosts the world's tennis elite in a battle for the coveted first grand slam title of the year.
Where to watch Australian OpenYou can watch the Australian Open 2024 on Sony Sports Network
Stay updated with the latest from IPL Auction 2025, including the final squads of all 10 teams – MI, CSK, RCB, GT, RR, KKR, DC, PBKS, SRH, and LSG. Don't miss the latest updates on our Live Cricket Score page.The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment