India’s Top-Ranked Singles Player Sumit Nagal Fails To Qualify For French Open

The best classified singles player in India, Sumit Nagal, suffered a disappointing outing in the second round of qualifying for France Open, losing 2-6, 4-6 against the Austrian court of Austria on Wednesday in Roland Garros. The defeat not only ended the Nagal campaign in Paris, but also marked the first time in 2025 that it will miss the main draw of a Grand Slam. Nagal, ranked 170th in the world, had started his qualification trip with a confident online sets on the American Mitchell Krueger. However, he could not reproduce this form against the 225th classified Rodionov, who finished the competition in an hour and 29 minutes.

The Austrian was the most composed of the two, especially in key moments, and capitalized on Nagal’s errors to progress.

The first set saw Rodionov dominate with powerful grounds and better legal coverage, breaking Nagal twice to take it 6-2. In the second set, the Indian sought to set up a return. After having lagged 2-4, Nagal rippled strongly, breaking the Rodionov service in the seventh game, then holding the service in an eighth delicate match where he dragged 0-30.

At 4-4, the match seemed ready for a tense finish. But used to stay in the match at 4-5, Nagal refused once again, dropping his service to put the victory back to Rodionov and his place in the final qualification round.

The loss is an important setback for Nagal, who had reached the main draw of the four Grand Chelem so far this season – a rare feat for a simple Indian player in recent years. Its breakthrough in 2024 had seen it enter directly or qualify for the Australian Open, the Open of France, Wimbledon and US Open.

This early outing to Roland Garros will be a difficult pill to swallow as it continues to pursue consistency on the big stage. Nagal is expected to come together and focus on the gas ground season, where he will aim to take momentum before the Wimbledon qualifications.

(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)