Australian Open 2024 - India's Sumit Nagal creates history, defeats World No. 31 Alexander Bublik

Sumit Nagal of India had a remarkable start at the Australian Open 2024, creating history by defeating World No. 31 Alexander Bublik. This marks the first instance in 35 years (since 1989), where an Indian player (male or female), has won over a seeded opponent at a Grand Slam. Nagal, who secured his spot in the main round through the qualifiers, clinched victory with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(5).

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Nagal's dominance was evident as he won the first set 6-4 and then delivered an even more commanding performance in the second set (6-2), giving him a 2-0 lead. Despite some resistance in the third set tiebreaker, he won 7-5.

Nagal needed to defeat Slovakia's Alex Molcan in last week's qualifier final to advance to the main draw. Nagal, currently ranked 139th in singles, is making his second appearance in the main draw of the season's first Grand Slam, having lost in the first round to Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis in 2021 (2-6, 5-7, 3-6).

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No other Indian has made it to the singles main draw since Nagal's victory this year. Nagal has previously appeared in the main draw of the US Open in 2019, and 2020. He pushed the legendary Roger Federer to four sets at Flushing Meadows before losing 6-4, 1-6, 2-6, 4-6.

The following year, Nagal advanced to the second round of the US Open by defeating Bradley Klahn with a scoreline of 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

Meanwhile, in men's doubles, Yuki Bhambri and his Dutch partner Robin Haase are set to face Brazil's Rafael Matos and Colombia's Nicolás Barrientos on Court 12.