Sumit Nagal becomes 1st Indian since 2013 to enter the 2nd leg of US open

New York City: India's top-ranked men's singles tennis player Sumit Nagal has created history by becoming the first Indian since 2013 to enter the second round of the ongoing US Open.

Nagal defeated Bradley Klahn of the United States 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the men's singles first round match at the US Open to progress further into the tournament on Tuesday. 

With this result, the 23-year-old Nagal has become the first Indian male to win a main draw match at the US Open or at any Grand Slam event in 7 years. In 2013, Somdev Devvarman had reached the second round of the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open. 

The Indian player will now face Austria's Dominic Thiem on Thursday who reached the 2nd round after his opponent Jaume Munnar retired during their 1st-round match.

Notably, this is Nagal's second successive US Open main draw appearance. He had lost to 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in the first round last year. Despite the loss against Federer, he had enhanced his reputation on the circuit as a fighter.(UNI)