Tokyo Olympics 2020: Sania-Ankita to face Ukrainian duo in round 1, Nagal to face Uzbek Denis Istomin

India's tennis stars will start their journey to the podium on July 24 at the Ariake Tennis Park

The draw for men's singles playoffs in the Tokyo Olympics tennis event has been announced and 23-year-old Sumit Nagal will face Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in the first round match. 

The Indian tennis player has had a mixed year so far. He has won 18 matches and lost 17 matches. 

Nagal lost both his hard-court matches this year. This will be the same surface that he will be playing on at Tokyo.

Even though, 160th ranked Nagal is not favourite to win the title, the fact that an Indian is playing in the singles competition is in itself an achievement. This, considering that the only other time Indian players were seen in the men's singles event was in the 2012 London Olympics where Somdev Devvarman and Vishnu Vardhan had competed.

Women's doubles playoffs announced

Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina will face Ukraine's Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok in the first round in the women's doubles.

The two Indian stars have paired together only once so far. They were seen in action during India's Billie Jean King Cup (Fed Cup) campaign.

Sania will be representing India for the fourth time in the Olympics while Ankita will be making her debut at the Games.

The pair is considered as a tennis medal hope at the Tokyo Olympics.