Nagal beats world number 38 Arnoldi in first round of Monte Carlo Masters

Mumbai: Top Indian singles player Sumit Nagar pulled off a major upset at the Monte Carlo Masters by defeating world number 38 Matteo Arnaldi of Italy in three sets in the first round at Roquebrun-Cap-Martin, France on Monday.
Nagal defeated Arnoldi 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to register the third best win of his career in terms of opponent’s ranking. It was his third win over a top 50 player and 11th against a top 100 player at the event being held in the French city near the border with Monaco.

Nagal, who came in the qualifying round, served consistently, while Arnoldi hit six aces but also committed the same number of double faults. Although his opponent had more success on his first serve, Nagal performed better on his second serve (75% success) than Arnoldi (44%).

Arnoldi broke Nagal in the sixth game to lead 4-2, but the Indian made a comeback in the next game and won the eighth game to make the score 4-4. The Italian made a crucial break with a cross-court winner in the 12th game to win the first set 6-5.

Nagal made a strong comeback in the second set, breaking in the third game of the second set and then taking a 4-1 lead in the fifth game. Although Arnoldi broke serve in the next game to make it 4–2, Nagal won the next two games to take the set 6–4.

In the third game of the decider, the Indian star broke serve and held serve to make the score 3-1. Arnoldi won the next two games, but was broken by Nagal in the seventh game. Nagal faced a final challenge from Arnoldi and saved a break point in the eighth game to win the third set 6-4.

A few days ago, Nagal became the first Indian man in 42 years to reach the main draw of the Monte Carlo singles draw.
He will play World No. 7 Holger Rune in the round of 32.