Sumit Nagal, over the course of the last 2-3 years, has grown to become a household name in India. The young starlet was the only Indian athlete who was participating in the Men’s Singles event in Tennis at the Paris Olympics. For the largest amount of time, expectations for Sumit Nagal to perform were always high. First in the Wimbledon and now, in the Olympics. But time and again, come the biggest stage, the 26-year-old has failed to deliver for his country.
And that is exactly what was on display this evening in Paris. After losing the first set against Corentin Moutet, Sumit Nagal showed a spirited comeback levelling the match before the start of the third set. It felt as if it was only right that Nagal would win it from there. But the 3rd set of the match went right down to the wire. With either competitor having 4 games to their name, it was now or never for them in the first round of the Olympics.
Often matches in any sport are decided by who wants it more. But this one was decided simply by who was better on the day. Corentin Moutet is an extremely talented French player. It’s sometimes scary how talented he can be. If only he were a little less arrogant and a bit more disciplined, there are no ceilings he cannot touch. Against Nagal in the 3rd set, Moutet’s full range of personality was vividly visible.
When he decided to turn it on, it felt as if there was nothing Nagal could do. And on other occasions, Sumit Nagal would force an error out of Moutet. With both scores tied at the end, and 2 games to win, Moutet decided that this was it. What followed was a mauling with 12 of the next 13 points going to Corentin Moutet. In the end, the Frenchman showed Sumit Nagal the exit door with pure class.
Sumit vs the Hostile Crowd
Going up against a talented Frenchman like Moutet in the heart of Paris in his first-round match at the Olympics must’ve been one of Sumit Nagal’s least favourite matchups. The French crowd at Court 7 was heavily sided with Corentin Moutet. And every point the Frenchman earned was celebrated like a Grand Slam win. On the other hand, Sumit Nagal’s every point could only earn him a few cheers from the small number of Indian fans present and applause from a select few French people. Sumit Nagal managed to silence the crowd when he forced a 3rd set in the match. With the match heating up towards the end, the crowd started getting even more agitated and cheers of “Moutet! Moutet! Moutet!” started ringing around. There were also some boos in the crowd whenever Sumit scored a point. And Gentleman’s game they say! The raucous French crowd may well have played a part in how the match ended. But, for Sumit Nagal, all that matters now is coming back stronger the next time he steps on the Tennis court.
