Sumit Nagal’s French Open preparation on track! Indian ace practices with Djokovic after Geneva exit

Despite a first-round exit at the Geneva Open, Sumit Nagal will leave the event in good spirits. The No. 1 ranked Indian men’s singles player lost to fifth seed Sebastian Baez in straight sets but gave the Argentinian a run for his money in the first set. Baez is a great clay courter and has already won the Rio and Chile Opens. He beat Holger Rune just last week at the Italian Open. 

Tougher practice than match

Losing the 20th-ranked player isn’t something to be sad about, and to practice with one of the greatest players of all time and the reigning world No. 1, Novak Djokovic, means that he’ll go to the French Open 2024 with a positive attitude despite crashing out of the first round.

Big expectations from Sumit Nagal

Clay has always been Nagal’s favorite surface, despite the best results coming on hardcourt. After making the second round at the Australian Open, winning the Chennai Challenger, and making the main draws at Indian Wells, Miami, Dubai, and Monte-Carlo, he’s had little to no success on clay courts. 

He has a 2-3 record on clay this year, 2-4 if we include his Bordeaux Challenger result. Of course, one reason he has had little success is his fitness. He didn’t play in Barcelona, Madrid, or Rome and is directly going to the French Open now. Considering how little he has played in the last month, practicing with Novak Djokovic should do him good.

Nagal’s clay results in 2024

• Grand Prix Hassan II (2nd round exit)
• Monte Carlo (2nd round exit)
• Bordeux Challenger (1st round exit)
• Geneva Open (1st round exit)