Sumit Nagal, an Indian tennis star, will make his fifth Grand Slam participation after being granted direct entrance into the main event of next year’s Australian Open. The 98th-ranked Nagal, who appears on Tennis Australia’s entry list issued on Friday, had to compete in the qualifying stages in the last tournament. Nagal defeated Kazakhstan’s 31st seed Alexander Bublik in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (5), becoming the first Indian player to upset a seeded player in the main draw of a Grand Slam in 34 years.
Nagal’s trip, however, came to an end in the following round when he was defeated by China’s wild card Shang Juncheng. Nagal’s career continued to rise when he became the 10th Indian player to reach the top 100 in the ATP rankings.
Meanwhile, incumbent world number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner is the top seed at the Australian Open, followed by Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz. Novak Djokovic was seeded sixth.
In the women’s singles, incumbent champion Aryna Sabalenka is seeded first, followed by Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.Grand Slam participation after being granted direct entrance into the main event of next year’s Australian Open.