Sumit Nagal made history at the Australian Open 2024 by becoming the first Indian to defeat a seeded player at a Grand Slam, overcoming World No. 27 Alexander Bublik in straight sets of 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (5). Nagal, ranked World No. 137, secured passage to the second round, where he will face China’s Juncheng Shang.
Behind Nagal’s success is a tale of resilience and support from an unexpected source—former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli’s foundation. Nagal revealed, “Virat Kohli’s foundation has been supporting me since 2017. I haven’t been performing well for the last two years and was facing a financial crisis. If I didn’t have Virat Kohli supporting me, I don’t know what I would have done.”
Nagal acknowledged the pivotal role Kohli’s foundation played during tough times, stating, “I had six dollars in my wallet… just six dollars after the help that I have been getting, so imagine what a mess I must have been before. But I survived, and things are getting better. If people fund athletes, it will only help the sport flourish in the country. I am fortunate to get that support from Virat.”
Looking ahead, Nagal is set to face 18-year-old Juncheng Shang, ranked 142 in the ATP Rankings. If successful, Nagal could potentially face second-seeded and World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the third round, presenting an exciting journey for the Indian tennis sensation.
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