US Open 2019: India’s Sumit Nagal Goes Down in Four Sets Against Roger Federer

US Open 2019: India’s Sumit Nagal Goes Down in Four Sets Against Roger Federer :- India’s Sumit Nagal put up a valiant fight against his ‘idol’ Roger Federer in the 1st-round clash that extended to 2 and half hours on Monday night. However, he was given a harsh introduction to Grand Slam tennis as the five-time champion Roger Federer weathered an early storm for a 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-4 win on Monday to reach the second round of the U.S. Open.

India’s Sumit Nagal Goes Down in Four Sets Against Roger Federer

Before his dream 1st-round meeting with Roger Federer at US Open 2019, Nagal had said, “I don’t care what the commentators will be saying about me on TV. I’m going to be enjoying the crowd, playing the best tennis player ever.”

But after the match, Nagal would certainly want to hear what the commentators were saying about him in the highlights reel which he should be cherishing for the rest of his life.

Nagal, World No. 190, became the first Indian to take a set off Roger Federer when he came back from being 2-0 down to win it 6-4, shocking the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd that was rallying behind the 5-time champion.

US Open 2019 Match Result

When the match began it was Federer who surprisingly looked intimidated under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights as he sprayed errors all around the court but the Swiss great woke from his slumber in time to turn the match resoundingly in his favour. Federer, who was sporting a few days’ worths of stubble, said in his on-court interview, “I thought I played like my beard today, I was rusty. I’m going to clean it up for my next match.”

Nagal, who was playing his maiden Grand Slam main draw match at the US Open, came out with a positive approach and showed no signs of being overwhelmed by the sense of occasion in front of the packed crowd. The 22-year-old Indian started to dominate rallies by hitting a few delightful forehand winners and being patient in the middle.

Nagal used impressive court coverage and sent heavily-spinning shots over the net during his dream start but his legs started to look more wobbly as the match wore and Federer righted the ship.

Nagal will rise to a career-high ranking of 175 after reaching his maiden Grand Slam main draw match. The Indian tennis player had previously lost the first round in qualifying in all the other 3 majors in 2019 but reached the main draw of an ATP 500 tournament for the 1st time earlier this year in Hamburg.