Sumit Nagal is having a great start to the year. After beating world number 23, Alexander Bublik, at the Australian Open 2024, the 26-year-old stormed into the round of 16 at the ATP Challenger Chennai. Fresh from his second-round run in Australia, Nagal beat compatriot S D Prajwal Dev in straight sets.
Nagal, who was seeded second, lost just three games, defeating Prajwal Dev 6-1, 6-2. Coming in as the overwhelming favorite, dominated on serve. The 26-year-old won 20/29 points on the first serve and 11/16 on the second.
Sumit Nagal broke Prajwal five times in the two sets, making full use of his poor second serve.
Up next for second seed Sumit Nagal will be Italian Giovanni Fonio. This will be the first meeting between the two on the challenger circuit. Fonio is coming off a tough three-setter in the first round but made the semifinals of the last tournament he played (Nonthaburi Challenger III).