Sumit Nagal jumps 23 places to break into top-100 of ATP singles rankings

Sumit Nagal (Pic: AFP)

India's leading singles player Sumit Nagal on Monday jumped 23 spots to break into the top-100 of the ATP singles rankings for the first time in his career.

The win at the Chennai Open challenger event on Sunday pushed Nagal to 98th in the latest ATP singles rankings led by Serbian Novak Djokovic.

Last month, Nagal had become the first Indian to beat a seeded player at a Grand Slam in 35 years when he upset then world no.27 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the first round. He eventually lost to China's Juncheng Shang in the second round.

Nagal is the first Indian to feature in the top-100 since left-handed Prajnesh Gunneswaran made the cut in 2019.

"I'm very emotional. You know, every tennis player's dream is to be top 100 at least. And like I said earlier, to win this match in front of the home crowd in your own country, I don't think I could have asked for a better place," Nagal said after his victory in Chennai on Sunday.

Also Read: Son Of A Gun wins feature event

"I don't think there were words, everyone was crying. Less words, more tears. I'm still very emotional. It's been very tough last year with being ranked 500, getting surgery done, not having financial support.

"A lot of ups and downs, you know. And I'm very happy that I found a way to push every single day and give myself a chance to be here."

Earlier, Nagal won his fifth Challenger-level singles title, outplaying Italian Luca Nardi in the final of the Chennai Open, an achievement which will propel him into the top-100 for the first time in his career. His 6-1 6-4 win is likely to take him to 98 when the fresh rankings will be issued on Monday.

Nagal has been in tremendous form as he won the Chennai Open without dropping a set.

(With agency inputs)