Sumit Nagal’s impressive run at the highest level continued, as the top-ranked Indian singles player fought hard against World No. 7 Holger Rune in the men’s singles second-round match at the Monte Carlo Masters. Sumit Nagal put in an incredible effort to take a set from Rune, a two-time French Open quarter-finalist, in a rain-affected encounter that lasted two days. Nagal lost 3-6, 6-3, 2-6 in 2 hours and 11 minutes, but made headlines with a breakout performance in the renowned Masters 1000 competition.

Nagal, who advanced to the second round of the Australian Open on hard courts earlier this year, secured a double break against Holger Rune in the second set, which resumed on Thursday after their match in Monte Carlo was suspended due to rain on Wednesday. In only their second meeting on the tour, Nagal demonstrated his readiness for the major fight on the greatest stages, even on clay.

Sumit Nagal, who is expected to enter the main draw of the French Open next month, made history in Monte Carlo earlier this week. Nagal advanced to the main draw of the famous Masters 1000 tournament on the red dirt, defeating Italian Matteo Arnaldi in the first round 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Nagal became the first Indian to win a main draw match at the Monte Carlo Masters, defeating Arnaldi on Monday. Nagal was also the first player from his country to win a main draw match at one of the three Masters 1000 competitions, which began in 1990 and are staged on clay. Nagal, who recently reached a career-high of No. 93 in the ATP rankings, is only the third Indian to play in the main draw at Monaco, after the famous Vijay Amritraj (in 1977) and Ramesh Krishnan (in 1982).

Later on, Ugo Humbert battled hard to defeat Lorenzo Sonego to reach the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters. The French tennis player avenged his loss to the Italian Sonego in the same tournament last year. The 25-year-old Humbert will take on Casper Ruud to earn a spot in the semi-finals. The Norwegian outclassed Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 to reach the last eight stage.

Meanwhile, World No.1 Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden lost their Round of 16 match at the Monte Carlo Masters. Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo defeated the top-seeded Indo-Australian pair in straight sets 3-6, 6-7 (6-8) in their men’s doubles match.