Former Indian tennis player Somdev Devvarman expressed his support for Sumit Nagal as he prepares to face world No. 26 Tomas Machac from the Czech Republic at the Australian Open 2025 on Monday at Melbourne Park. This marks Nagal's second consecutive appearance in the main draw of the tournament, following his exit in the second round last year.

Nagal experienced a significant breakthrough in 2024, which commenced at the Australian Open. Despite being denied a wildcard by the All India Tennis Association (AITA), the 27-year-old successfully navigated the qualifiers and achieved an impressive victory over 31st seed Alexander Bublik in straight sets. This victory made him the first Indian player to defeat a seeded opponent in the singles main draw of a Grand Slam since Ramesh Krishnan at the 1989 Australian Open, although he was eliminated in the subsequent round.

Now ranked 96 in the ATP standings, Nagal has secured direct entry into the main draw of the Australian Open this year. However, he faces a challenging matchup against the rising Czech star Machac, who notably defeated Novak Djokovic in Geneva last year.

In a media interaction organized by Sony Sports Network, Somdev highlighted Nagal's recent performance, particularly his straight-set victory over France's Adrian Mannarino in the Auckland Open qualifiers last week, as he expressed confidence in Nagal's ability to replicate his success from 2024 in Melbourne.

"Machac presents a formidable challenge. While Sumit has had an exceptional season in 2024, Machac has also made significant strides, defeating several top players and earning a seed at this major event, which is no small feat. Machac has consistently performed at a high level," he remarked.

"Sumit is also playing well, having secured a top 100 win this year against Mannarino. The first round of a major can often be unpredictable, and the player who starts stronger can have an advantage. However, considering their respective playing styles, I believe..."

Alcaraz cautioned that Djokovic should not be underestimated as an 'underdog'

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner officially confirmed in 2024 that the new generation of tennis players has indeed arrived, having divided the four Grand Slam titles during a season marked by near misses for Novak Djokovic. As the first major of 2025 approaches, Sinner is once again regarded as the strong favourite to defend his title in Melbourne, while many anticipate an Alcaraz victory over Djokovic in their potential quarterfinal encounter.

In response to an inquiry from HT, Somdev acknowledged that Djokovic must come to terms with the reality that he may no longer be the predominant favourite at Grand Slam events as his career progresses. However, he did not dismiss the possibility of Djokovic achieving an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title.

"I believe the transition in leadership has occurred. We have witnessed it unfold before our eyes. It is important to remember that Rafa has retired, and Djokovic has faced injuries, including knee surgery. He made a comeback and won the Olympics. Nevertheless, the Grand Slam titles in 2024 were exclusively claimed by Sinner and Alcaraz. Thus, the shift in dominance has already taken place. Consequently, every time Novak competes in a major, he will not be among the top two favourites. This is a reality that all tennis enthusiasts must now accept. However, I would not underestimate Novak. He has a history of succeeding as an underdog. The question remains whether he can maintain his health throughout the season. As he ages, the younger players are entering their prime. Will there be a physical disparity that he can overcome? If he can address these challenges, one should never count Novak out of a tournament," he stated.

Read Also: Australian Open 2025 Women's Preview: Can Sabalenka Achieve a Historic Third Title?

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