Sumit Nagal recorded the biggest win of his career yet when he upset World No. 22 Cristian Garin in the second round of the $412,000 Argentina Open in Buenos Aires on Thursday.
The 23-year-old Indian, ranked 150, outsmarted Garin, who had touched a career-high 18 last year, 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 43 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 Series clay court event.
In the last-eight round, Nagal will be up against Albert Ramos-Vinolas, the fifth seed from Spain whom he had beaten in straight sets in the quarterfinals in a Challenger in Lyon in 2019.
“It (the win) means a lot. I am very happy that I am getting to play a lot of matches,” Nagal said after his win.
“Playing against my friend Garin was fun today. I played a good match, followed my gameplan and came out on top.
“I am enjoying being back on clay and looking forward for my next match.”
Nagal’s previous biggest had come in Bratislava in 2019 where he put down local favourite Martin Klizan, then ranked 56.
Thursday’s win is even more significant since Klizan, 31, has since slipped to 156 whereas Garin, at 24, is very much a contemporary.
The clay courts of Buenos Aires seem to bring the best out of the Haryana native. He had claimed a Challenger title in the same city — at a different venue, though — in 2019. It capped a remarkable season in which he made his maiden US Open appearance where he took a set out of Roger Federer.
The start of 2021 hasn’t been remarkable for Nagal, who went down tamely in the first round of the Australian Open. But the Latin American sojourn once again is rekindling the form of two years ago.
On Thursday, the Indian’s return game made the difference.
Nagal got broken on serve four times but he also broke the Santiago-born Garin seven times.
He won 15 out of 22 points (68 percent) on Garin’s second serve while his friendly foe could claim only eight out of 18 points (44 percent).
Nagal also won 10 percent more return points overall — 43/75 (57 percent) compared to Garin’s 29/62 (47 percent).
The Indian is guaranteed to rise 12 spots after the win to rise to 138 d rankings.
The 23-year-old Indian, ranked 150, outsmarted Garin, who had touched a career-high 18 last year, 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 43 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 Series clay court event.
In the last-eight round, Nagal will be up against Albert Ramos-Vinolas, the fifth seed from Spain whom he had beaten in straight sets in the quarterfinals in a Challenger in Lyon in 2019.
“It (the win) means a lot. I am very happy that I am getting to play a lot of matches,” Nagal said after his win.
“Playing against my friend Garin was fun today. I played a good match, followed my gameplan and came out on top.
“I am enjoying being back on clay and looking forward for my next match.”
Nagal’s previous biggest had come in Bratislava in 2019 where he put down local favourite Martin Klizan, then ranked 56.
Thursday’s win is even more significant since Klizan, 31, has since slipped to 156 whereas Garin, at 24, is very much a contemporary.
The clay courts of Buenos Aires seem to bring the best out of the Haryana native. He had claimed a Challenger title in the same city — at a different venue, though — in 2019. It capped a remarkable season in which he made his maiden US Open appearance where he took a set out of Roger Federer.
The start of 2021 hasn’t been remarkable for Nagal, who went down tamely in the first round of the Australian Open. But the Latin American sojourn once again is rekindling the form of two years ago.
On Thursday, the Indian’s return game made the difference.
Nagal got broken on serve four times but he also broke the Santiago-born Garin seven times.
He won 15 out of 22 points (68 percent) on Garin’s second serve while his friendly foe could claim only eight out of 18 points (44 percent).
Nagal also won 10 percent more return points overall — 43/75 (57 percent) compared to Garin’s 29/62 (47 percent).
The Indian is guaranteed to rise 12 spots after the win to rise to 138 d rankings.