Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal’s quest for Olympic glory came to a premature end at the Paris Olympics 2024 as he suffered a tough three-set loss to France’s Corentin Moutet in the first round of the men’s singles event.
Nagal, who was making his second Olympic appearance after the 2020 Tokyo Games, fought valiantly for two hours and 28 minutes before succumbing to a 2-6, 6-2, 5-7 defeat against the home favorite on Court 7 at Stand Roland Garros.
The 26-year-old Indian had previously held a 2-2 head-to-head record against Moutet, having won their most recent encounter at the ATP 250 event in Marrakech earlier this year. However, he was unable to replicate that success on the big stage of the Olympics.
A Rollercoaster Match with Oscillating Fortunes
The match started with Moutet taking control, breaking Nagal’s serve in the opening game and racing to a 2-0 lead. Despite Nagal’s efforts to fight back, the Frenchman managed to clinch the first set 6-2 in just 44 minutes.
Undeterred, Nagal bounced back in the second set, winning it 6-2 in 39 minutes. The Indian reeled off three games in a row, breaking Moutet’s serve twice to level the match at one set apiece.
The decider proved to be a nail-biting affair, with both players giving their all. Nagal took an early 2-0 lead, breaking Moutet’s serve twice to level the match at one set apiece.
The decider proved to be a nail-biting affair, with both players giving their all. Nagal took an early 2-0 lead, breaking Moutet’s serve in the second game. However, the Frenchman broke back immediately to make it 2-2.
The set remained on serve until the 11th game when Moutet managed to break Nagal’s serve in the second game. However, the Frenchman broke back immediately to make it 2-2.
The set remained on serve until the 11th game when Moutet managed to break Nagal’s serve once again to take a crucial lead. Serving for the match, Moutet sealed the victory with a backhand winner on his second match point, ending Nagal’s Olympic dream.
Nagal’s Gallant Effort Not Enough
Despite the loss, Nagal can take pride in his performance, as he fought hard throughout the match, saving one match point before eventually succumbing to Moutet’s relentless attack.
The Indian managed to hit 20 winners compared to Moutet’s 34, but his 49 unforced errors and five double faults proved to be his undoing. Nagal also failed to capitalize on the four break-point opportunities he had in the opening set.
With Nagal’s exit, India’s hopes for a medal in the men’s singles event at the Paris Olympics 2024 have been dashed. The country’s only remaining medal hopes in tennis now lie with the doubles pair of Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji, who are set to face the Franch duo of Gael Monfils and Edouard Roger-Vasslin in the first round later in the day.
Moutet Advances, Faces Struff in Round 2
Moutet, ranked 68th on the ATP tour, will now face Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round. The Frenchman, who was making his Olympic debut, will be looking to continue his run in the bottom half of the draw, where he could potentially meet 9th-seeded American Tommy Paul if he reaches the third round.
Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur, who was scheduled to play Struff, has withdrawn from the singles event, giving the German a free pass into the second round.
Nagal’s Olympic Journey
Sumit Nagal’s journey at the Olympics has been a rollercoaster ride. In his debut appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Games, he managed to reach the second round before losing to world number two Daniil Medvedev.
Despite the early exit in Paris, Nagal can take solace in the fact that he has gained valuable experience competing at the highest level of the sport. The young Indian will undoubtedly be looking to bounce back stronger and make a deeper run in future Olympic Games.
Conclusion
Sumit Nagal’s loss to Corentin Moutet in the first round of the Paris Olympics 2024 men’s singles event marks the end of an era for Indian tennis. While the defeat is undoubtedly a disappointment, Nagal can hold his head high knowing that he gave his all on the court.
As the focus shifts to the doubles event, where Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji carry the nation’s hopes, Indian fans will be eagerly waiting to see if the duo can bring home a medal and salvage some pride from the tennis competition at the Paris Games.