India’s top-ranked singles player, Sumit Nagal, has received a wildcard for the Dubai Open 2024. Ranked 98 in the world, the 26-year-old has been in fine form in the last couple of months. After making the second round of the Australian Open 2024, after beating Alexander Bublik in the first round, Nagal won his 5th Challenger title in Chennai earlier this month.
Sumit Nagal will face Italian Lorenzo Sonego in his opening-round match. The Italian is ranked 49th in the world and has claimed wins over Grand Slam champions Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem in the past.
Sumit Nagal: Road to the Dubai Open 2024 Final
Round of 16: Lorenzo Sonego
Quarterfinal: [1] Daniil Medvedev
Semifinal: [3] Hubert Hurkacz or [8] Ugo Humbert
Final: [2] Andrey Rublev or [4] Karen Khachanov
Nagal is coming off a loss against compatriot Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha in the Pune Challenger Round of 16. The 26-year-old is scheduled to play the Indian Wells in early March but will now try to improve his ranking at the Dubai Open.
If the top-ranked Indian manages to go past Lorenzo, he’ll face World No. 4 and top seed Daniil Medvedev in the next round. Things will get more difficult from there on. He’ll potentially face other top seeds, Hubert Hurkacz or Ugo Humbert, in the semifinal. He might then face former Dubai Open champion Andrey Rublev in the final.
