Interview | I will be smarter and go for the top-50, says Sumit Nagal Premium

Sumit Nagal reflects on a mixed 2024 season, aiming to break into the ATP top-50 in 2025.

Sumit Nagal had a mixed 2024. At the Australian Open, he came through the qualifiers and stunned the then World No. 27 Alexander Bublik in the first round, and in February, he broke into the ATP top-100 for the first time. In April on the Monte Carlo clay, he started in the qualifying rounds and nearly entered the round of 16 before losing narrowly to Holger Rune (No.7) in three sets.

Propelled by a trophy and a runner-up finish in consecutive Challengers in June — again on his beloved red dirt — he got to a career-best ranking of No. 68 in mid-July.

But the 27-year-old’s lack of success at the other three Slams — French Open, Wimbledon and US Open — will rankle him, and so will his 1-11 win-loss record on the Tour starting from the Paris Olympics.

There was also the controversy regarding his non-availability for the Davis Cup World Group I tie against Sweden in September — an issue he did not want to comment on — that India lost badly (0-4). As the 2025 season looms, Nagal, now ranked 98th in the World, told The Hindu in an interview that he was confident of learning from the experiences of the last 12 months and making a push for the ATP top-50. Excerpts:

I feel like I played two different seasons. The first seven months were different, and around the US Open and post-US Open, things were different. The first few months I was really fit and playing well. The confidence was high and I really enjoyed being on the court. Once my back gave up a bit, and I really couldn’t find out what the reason was, the training became less and there was a lot of worrying on the court. I lost track a little there.

If I am talking about playing the higher-ranked opponents, [I learnt that] you have to be on top of your game because the margin is very less. Everyone serves well, hits well, moves well. So, you have to show that you are ready to fight and play the first and last points at the same high level. That’s the difference I feel from Challengers to the ATP Tour. You don’t get so many free points [on the Tour].

Definitely. I very much believe that I belong in the top-100. I will back myself for it. I just have to be a little smarter in a few things, like scheduling, fitness routines… if that is done, I should be okay.