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 Schedule
The 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 Open
You can watch the
Australian Open 2024
on Sony Sports Network
English (US) ·