Xtratime Web Desk

India's top-ranked men's singles player, Sumit Nagal, is on the verge of ending his long title drought after booking a place in the final of the ATP Challenger 75 Targu Mures in Romania. The Indian star defeated home favourite Cezar Cretu 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in a hard-fought semi-final to reach his first ATP Challenger final of the 2026 season.

The final marks Nagal's first appearance in an ATP Challenger title match since finishing runner-up at the Perugia Challenger in June 2024. His impressive run has been highlighted by four consecutive three-set victories, underlining both his fighting spirit and exceptional fitness. On Sunday, he will face French qualifier Felix Balshor in the championship match. A victory would hand Nagal the seventh ATP Challenger title of his career.

Nagal faced a stern challenge against Romania's Cezar Cretu, who had reached the semi-finals without dropping a single set and enjoyed overwhelming support from the home crowd.

The match did not begin well for the Indian. Cretu secured an early service break to take a 3-1 lead in the opening set. However, Nagal displayed his experience and composure by turning the momentum completely in his favour. He reeled off five consecutive games to claim the first set 6-3, using aggressive returns and an improved first serve to dictate play.

The Romanian bounced back strongly in the second set by consistently attacking Nagal's second serve and cutting down on unforced errors. Cretu maintained the pressure throughout and captured the set 6-4, forcing the match into a deciding third set.

Despite playing his fourth straight three-set match of the tournament, Nagal showed no signs of fatigue when it mattered most. Instead, he produced his best tennis in the deciding set.

Powerful groundstrokes, outstanding court coverage and relentless attacking play allowed the Indian to take complete control of the contest. Nagal fired a series of winners and wrapped up the final set 6-1, once again showcasing his mental resilience and ability to thrive under pressure.

Nagal's journey to the final has been anything but straightforward. He opened his campaign with a victory over Croatia's Mili Poljicak before staging a remarkable comeback against Benjamin Hassan in the second round.

In the quarter-finals, he recovered from losing the opening set to overcome Duje Ajdukovic. His semi-final triumph over Cretu completed a remarkable run of four consecutive three-set victories, significantly boosting his confidence ahead of the title clash.

Reaching the final represents a significant milestone in Nagal's comeback journey. Injuries and inconsistent results over the past year saw the Indian slip down the ATP rankings. However, his impressive performances in Romania suggest he is steadily rediscovering his best form.

A title on Sunday would not only end his prolonged trophy drought but also earn valuable ATP ranking points, strengthening his chances of gaining direct entry into bigger tournaments in the coming months.