class="post-template-default single single-post postid-5728 single-format-standard wp-embed-responsive post-image-above-header post-image-aligned-center sticky-menu-fade right-sidebar nav-below-header separate-containers header-aligned-left dropdown-hover" itemtype="https://schema.org/Blog" itemscope>

Sumit Nagal faces Thomas Machak in the first round of Australian Open 2025

by

Sumit Nagal

Image Source : GETTY
Sumit Nagal

The first Grand Slam of the year is about to begin in which India’s top singles tennis player Sumit Nagal will face Thomas Machak of Czech Republic. 27-year-old Nagal is currently ranked 96th in the ATP rankings. Being among the top 104 players, he has made it to the main draw of the first Grand Slam of the season. The Haryana player had defeated 27th-ranked Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the first round of the Australian Open last year but lost to Juncheng Shang of China in the next round. He had lost in the first round to America’s Alex Michelsen in the Auckland ASB Classic, considered important for preparation for the Australian Open. Nagal was in the news recently for his refusal to play Davis Cup.

Defending champion Yannick Sinner and 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic have got opposite draws in the first Grand Slam of the year, due to which now both of them cannot face each other in the semi-finals like last year. Sinner had defeated Djokovic in the semi-finals last year and won his first Grand Slam title by defeating Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. The top-ranked Sinner will face Nicolas Zari in the first round. Their draw also features Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Medvedev. Fritz will face American Jenson Brooksby in the first round.

Djokovic will start with a new coach

Djokovic and third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz may face each other in the quarterfinals. In the women’s category, Aryna Sabalenka has been drawn with 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens and 17-year-old Mira Andreeva. Sabalenka will be eyeing her third consecutive Australian Open title and the last time only Martina Hingis could achieve this feat from 1997 to 1999. She may face third seed Coco Gauff in the semi-finals. Gauff will face former champion Sofia Kenin in the first round and seventh seed Jessica Pegula is also in the same draw. Second-ranked Iga Swiatek and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina are in the other half of the draw. The Australian Open will start in Melbourne from Sunday and will last for 15 days.

(Input-PTI)

Leave a Comment