Sumit Nagal, Rohan Bopanna top Indian players in action at French Open | Tennis News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: The much-anticipated French Open 2024 tennis tournament is set to begin at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, with the main draw matches commencing on May 26. This prestigious event marks the second Grand Slam of the year, promising high-octane tennis action and thrilling matchups.
Sumit Nagal has made headlines by securing his spot in the men’s singles main draw, thanks to his career-high world ranking of 80.He becomes the first Indian male player to qualify for the French Open main draw since Prajnesh Gunneswaran in 2019.
Nagal recently stunned world No. 38 Matteo Arnaldi at the Monte Carlo Masters, making history as the first Indian to qualify for the main draw of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament in 42 years.
The men’s singles competition will feature the return of Rafael Nadal, the “King of Clay,” who missed last year’s tournament due to an abdominal muscle tear.
Nadal, with a record 14 French Open titles, will be a key figure alongside world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who won his 24th Grand Slam title at the French Open last year. Djokovic, with three titles at Roland Garros, and Nadal have a storied rivalry at this venue.
World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz is another strong contender, having reached the semi-finals last year before losing to Djokovic. Other notable players include former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, former Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner, and two-time French Open runner-up Casper Ruud.
In the men’s doubles, Rohan Bopanna and his partner Matthew Ebden are among the title favorites. Bopanna, ranked fourth in the world, and Ebden, ranked third, are the reigning Australian Open champions and the second-seeded pair at Roland Garros.
Other Indian players in the men’s doubles include Yuki Bhambri with partner Albano Olivetti, Sumit Nagal with Sebastian Ofner, and the all-Indian pairs of Anirudh Chandrasekar-Arjun Kadhe and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli-Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha.
The women’s singles competition will be led by world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, a three-time French Open champion who won the tournament in 2022 and 2023. Swiatek arrives at Roland Garros after a recent victory at the Madrid Open. She will face stiff competition from Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina, all of whom are strong contenders for the title.
With such an impressive lineup of players, the French Open 2024 promises to deliver captivating matches and memorable moments as the world’s best tennis players compete on the iconic clay courts of Roland Garros.
Indian tennis players at French Open 2024
Men’s singles: Sumit Nagal
Men’s doubles: Rohan Bopanna-Matthew Ebden (AUS), Yuki Bhambri-Albano Olivetti (FRA), Sumit Nagal-Sebastian Ofner (AUT), Sriram Balaji-Miguel Angel Reyes Varela (MEX), Anirudh Chandrasekar-Arjun Kadhe, Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli-Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha.
(With ANI inputs)