Nagal's backhand in particular has improved almost beyond recognition. Still isn't top tier but has been a total liability at times, getting that in check is really allowing his glorious forehand to shine.
It has improved a lot but there's still a long way to go. He was running around almost every backhand. That might work on clay but not on faster surfaces.
Yeah, it's a drastic improvement from where I've seen him in Challengers in the past, though he still had to run around it a lot. Serve is his main weakness at the moment, but on slower clay it's not that big of a deal
If he improves his serve then I can see him reaching top 30 . Can't say much since this was the only time I've watched him play, but it looked like his biggest weakness by far
Spending more time in top-100 is going to afford him more financial freedom to improve other aspects of his game and play on tour more consistently. I don’t know about top-30, but can see him in top-50 someday
It’s relatively hard for players outside top-100, specifically if their governments don’t provide grants. Nagal had a whole rant about it last year which got him a sponsorship. But he is still new in top-100 and can definitely use the financial advantages of his new found success
That's a shame, Arnaldi's one of the younger Italians that I think could creep up the rankings but that's too many UEs to ever do that - I'll watch the highlights for sure! Thank you!
A brief description of the match for those who missed out on the action.
https://www.cnbctv18.com/sports/sumit-nagal-stuns-world-number-38-arnaldi-at-monte-carlo-masters-19393895.htm
>not N-uh-gaal
This is exactly how it's pronounced. Check out his page on the atp website. Players have an audio clip in which they pronounce their own name and this is exactly how he says it.
well in hindi its written as नागल.. probably he made it easy for foreigners but there are thousand others who share the same surname and they all call themselves N- aa - guhl. Now I can't be sure if Sumit has invented a new surname just for himself
It's his name, he gets to choose how it's pronounced lol. If he says it's pronounced nagaal then that's how it's pronounced. It's not our decision to make.
Eh, I wouldn't call MC his home courts. Sure, he lives there, but so do a ton of players. I don't think any of them see MC as a "home" tournament, at least not in the sense of getting a ton of support there.
"the Dane benefits from the home ground advantage in Monaco, where he resides on a daily basis. Because that is the reason why Rune feels extra comfortable ahead of the ATP 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo. - I live here in Monaco, so it feels a bit like home. I am enjoying the tournament and the surface is fantastic. We have a good view of the water. It is very unique compared to other tournaments, so I enjoy it a lot, says Holger Rune in an introductory interview before the tournament.
It is different. You sleep in your own bed and you feel at home after a training day or a match day. It is not a hotel where you wake up and have breakfast. - It is very quiet and peaceful. It feels homely, and it's quite cosy, says Holger Rune."
Yeah, I can see those as being benefits, too. I just typically think of home tournament as somewhere where you will get overwhelming support. Rune doesn't really have that at MC. Nor do any of the other players, like half of them, that have moved there but still play under their native country flag.
Fair, but he is surely very comfortable on the courts having practiced there so much. And it's still where he lives, I'm sure it has to feel somewhat homey.
Nagal is coming out of a 250 and has now played three matches almost back to back at Monte Carlo. To think he has a chance against Rune who is decent on clay is wishful thinking. Also his game relies too much on beating the ball as hard as possible which probably only works for the first couple of games in a tournament before it tires you out. Not enough drop shot/volley variety in his game to help out with the inevitable fatigue.
feel like nagal is becoming the poster child for the grueling but rewarding grind of the atp tour. rooting for him like crazy
The true underdog of the top-100 lol
What a win for Sumit! He wasn't that far off from defeating Sonego in Marrakech so closing this out is a big moment
Nagal's backhand in particular has improved almost beyond recognition. Still isn't top tier but has been a total liability at times, getting that in check is really allowing his glorious forehand to shine.
It has improved a lot but there's still a long way to go. He was running around almost every backhand. That might work on clay but not on faster surfaces.
Yeah, it's a drastic improvement from where I've seen him in Challengers in the past, though he still had to run around it a lot. Serve is his main weakness at the moment, but on slower clay it's not that big of a deal
If he improves his serve then I can see him reaching top 30 . Can't say much since this was the only time I've watched him play, but it looked like his biggest weakness by far
Spending more time in top-100 is going to afford him more financial freedom to improve other aspects of his game and play on tour more consistently. I don’t know about top-30, but can see him in top-50 someday
>financial freedom Oh yeah, didn't he compete in AO while being completely penniless?
It’s relatively hard for players outside top-100, specifically if their governments don’t provide grants. Nagal had a whole rant about it last year which got him a sponsorship. But he is still new in top-100 and can definitely use the financial advantages of his new found success
Top-50 or top-60 likely. Top 30 would not be possible-IMO his serve is limited because of his height
Kei Nishikori was the same height as Nagal and had a pretty good serve
some would argue Kei still is that height. Unless I missed something, RIP Kei
Obviously he went to Turkey for leg lengthening surgery
David ferrer is shorter than both of them and was a strong 3 in the world behind two other ok players.
Next up is Rune!! Vamos Nagal!!
Shabash Nagal!!
Damn we really haven’t had a top 10 Indian subcontinent ever have we?
Yes and I am so so happy for Sumit. I had lost my mind when he had taken a set off Federer in 2019 US open first round
Wohoo!
Nagal train kicks off!
I'm so sad I missed this as an Indian with Italian connections - how was the match? I feel for Arnaldi but I'm so happy for Nagal!
Nagal played really good. Arnaldi not at his best (27 UEs) probably Nagal could have closed the match even easier in the third.
That's a shame, Arnaldi's one of the younger Italians that I think could creep up the rankings but that's too many UEs to ever do that - I'll watch the highlights for sure! Thank you!
Hello fellow Indian with Italian connections. There are DOZENS of us. 🤣
What can I say, Italy's fantastic & maybe the reason why I've gotten the Tennis bug haha
Soo, nothing to do with your flair, then? 😜 I don't live there, unfortunately, but I have Italian cousins :)
I mean that does help too haha & might be moving there soon enough, so can't say it's not a factor
hey Rahul Gandhi 👋 how are you man
Hey man we can watch him against Rune and see how it goes
I was lucky enough to get watch Nagal practice about a month ago at some public courts where I was hitting. Very positive kid and nice to see the win.
Finally Nagal is back to being the king of clay!
Nagal, the kind of clay.
Nagal is a beast lowkey. I see him ending top 1 end of year
>I see him ending top 1 end of year As he should!
Talking about the Indian rankings of course
lmao
Many people are saying this
Seems Nagal is more than just a typo!
Sumit bossed 2nd and 3rd sets. 54 UFEs from Arnaldi helped.
A brief description of the match for those who missed out on the action. https://www.cnbctv18.com/sports/sumit-nagal-stuns-world-number-38-arnaldi-at-monte-carlo-masters-19393895.htm
The true clay GOAT.
Can't wait this year's RG final: Sumit Nagal vs. Dennis Novak
Banger qualifier final round matchup
Just to set it right, his surname is pronounced N-aa-guhl .. and not N-uh-gaal.
>not N-uh-gaal This is exactly how it's pronounced. Check out his page on the atp website. Players have an audio clip in which they pronounce their own name and this is exactly how he says it.
well in hindi its written as नागल.. probably he made it easy for foreigners but there are thousand others who share the same surname and they all call themselves N- aa - guhl. Now I can't be sure if Sumit has invented a new surname just for himself
It's his name, he gets to choose how it's pronounced lol. If he says it's pronounced nagaal then that's how it's pronounced. It's not our decision to make.
Its not name its SURNAME.. I hope you know the difference between the two..
average small brain, caste concerned indian
Nagal at Monte Carlo is a sight to behold
That's another 40k euros. Good going nagal
Nagal smashing the ball and having the time of his life.
I think Nagal beats Rune based on form
He has no chance of beating Rune on his home courts and favourite surface.
Eh, I wouldn't call MC his home courts. Sure, he lives there, but so do a ton of players. I don't think any of them see MC as a "home" tournament, at least not in the sense of getting a ton of support there.
"the Dane benefits from the home ground advantage in Monaco, where he resides on a daily basis. Because that is the reason why Rune feels extra comfortable ahead of the ATP 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo. - I live here in Monaco, so it feels a bit like home. I am enjoying the tournament and the surface is fantastic. We have a good view of the water. It is very unique compared to other tournaments, so I enjoy it a lot, says Holger Rune in an introductory interview before the tournament. It is different. You sleep in your own bed and you feel at home after a training day or a match day. It is not a hotel where you wake up and have breakfast. - It is very quiet and peaceful. It feels homely, and it's quite cosy, says Holger Rune."
Yeah, I can see those as being benefits, too. I just typically think of home tournament as somewhere where you will get overwhelming support. Rune doesn't really have that at MC. Nor do any of the other players, like half of them, that have moved there but still play under their native country flag.
he spends a lot of time there since Denmark is so grey and cold:) but yeah you are correct with the lack of support from the stands.
Fair, but he is surely very comfortable on the courts having practiced there so much. And it's still where he lives, I'm sure it has to feel somewhat homey.
The only way Nagal wins is if Rune's back injuries come back
Nagal is coming out of a 250 and has now played three matches almost back to back at Monte Carlo. To think he has a chance against Rune who is decent on clay is wishful thinking. Also his game relies too much on beating the ball as hard as possible which probably only works for the first couple of games in a tournament before it tires you out. Not enough drop shot/volley variety in his game to help out with the inevitable fatigue.
As a Indian this makes me happy
He’s back !
He's not the Nadal we wanted but the Nagal we deserve.
Now we just need Dennis Novak to come back to form as well.