Tokyo Olympics: Sumit Nagal wins India’s first Olympic singles tennis match in 25 years

Now, Nagal will face Australian Open runner-up Medvedev, who beat Kazakhstan's Alexander Bubilk 6-4 7-6(8).

Sumit Nagal on Saturday became only the third Indian to win a men's singles match at the Olympics Games and the first in 25 years. At the Ariake Tennis Centre, Nagal got the better of Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 in two hours and 34 minutes to set up a second-round with World No 2 Daniil Medvedev.  Now, Nagal will face Australian Open runner-up Medvedev, who beat Kazakhstan's Alexander Bubilk 6-4 7-6(8). 

Saturday's win, indeed, came the hard way as the match had lots of ups and downs. Speaking about the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, Nagal ranked 144 on the cut-off date (June 14), secured the berth only various withdrawals happened.  

In 1988, Zeeshan Ali was the first Indian to win a singles match at Seoul Games when he beat Victo Caballero from Paraguay. Post that, the legendary Leander Paes won the historic men's singles bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Games, beating Brazil's Fernando Meligeni. To put things clearer, Nagal (23), wasn't even born when Paes went on to win the bronze in Atlanta. 

In 2019, during US Open, Nagal came through the qualification round to set up his first-ever Grand Slam main draw match against Roger Federer. The Indian young boy rallied well and took the first set but eventually lost in four. However, he had impressed his opponent and spectators.