Internet Desk: Indian tennis sensation Sumit Nagal claimed his biggest win on the senior circuit with an impressive 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win over British Jay Clarke in the final of the $100,000 ATP Challenger Tour Bengaluru Open, at the KSLTA Courts in Bengaluru, on Saturday.
With the right combination of aggression and composure, Nagal clawed his way back from being two games down in the first set to make it 3-3 before breaking through to claim it 6-3 with his big forehands proving too much for 19-year-old Clarke.
It was the Brit who began stronger of the two in the second set, putting on a spirited show to take an early lead at 2-3. Despite Nagal’s best efforts, which saw the Rohtak-born boy bring it level once again, Clarke went on to take the set 3-6.
Playing with a spring in his step, the breakthrough in the final set came in the fourth game for Nagal, when, leading 2-1, he sent a combination of fierce shots towards Clarke to take a 3-1 lead. Despite losing six game points in the final set, 20-year-old Nagal kept his composure and powered his way through to win the final set 6-2 and with it, his biggest win yet on the senior circuit.
“I can’t explain this moment, to be honest. This is the biggest win of my career so far and it’s still a bit of a shock. The crowd was amazing it feels really special to win this title in front of my people. Hopefully, this marks the beginning of many more,” Nagal said following the win.
In a clash that lasted little less than two hours, Nagal said that maintaining his calmness on the court proved crucial. “(Jay) Clarke is a very good player and he moves well on the court. It was important for me to stay composed because if I told myself that I had to win it, I would have put pressure on myself. I took it point by point and that really helped me.”