Sumit Nagal Becomes First Indian To Win Tennis Grand Slam Match Since 2013, Reaches Second Round Of US Open

Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal scripted history by becoming the first Indian since 2013 to win a grand slam game and enter the second round of the US Open.

Somdev Devvarman was the last Indian to reach the second round of the US Open's men's singles event.

Nagal stormed into the second round of the Grand Slam by defeating US' Bradley Klahn 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 on Tuesday. With this the 23-year-old became the first Indian to win a singles main draw match at a Grand Slam in the last seven years.

Nagal maintained a win percentage of 80 per cent on his first serves in the first set during which the experienced American made 15 unforced errors.

The Indian continued to dominate and clinched the second set 6-3 but was broken at a crucial juncture in the 3rd set after which Klahn held his serve and forced a 4th set.

Nagal gathered his focus back and clinched an early break. There was no looking back from thereon as the Indian youngster wrapped the first-round match in 2 hours and 12 minutes.

Nagal had also scripted history last year at the US Open when he had become the first Indian to win a set against Roger Federer.

The 20 time grand slam winner though came back strongly and took the second and third set 6-1, 6-2.

Nagal ultimately went down fighting in a four setter game by losing the final fourth set 6-4 in a game which lasted for 2 hours and 50 minutes.

While Nagal lost the game, he gave a renewed hope that an Indian tennis player can again make it big on the singles stage.

With Inputs From IANS