How Virat Kohli played a major role in Indian tennis great Sumit Nagal's path to success – See details

Sumit Nagal will next face 18-year-old Juncheng Shang of China in the second round of the 2024 Australian Open, who defeated Mackenzie McDonald of the US.

Sumit Nagal reached the second round of the Australian Open for the first time. (Image: DC/X)

Melbourne: Sumit Nagal created history by becoming the first Indian to defeat a seeded player at a Grand Slam when he got past world number 31 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the first round of the 2024 Australian Open on Tuesday. But behind Nagal's success lies another man who also deserves praise: former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli. It was Virat Kohli's foundation that first offered the 26-year-old from Haryana a helping hand in 2017, when he had just six dollars in his pocket.

The road was not easy for Nagal. After becoming the sixth Indian to win a junior Wimbledon title in 2015, Nagal faced many hardships, from injuries to financial problems and off-court problems. But Nagal was determined to reach the top. And the result is visible to everyone.

On Tuesday, Nagal won 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 to advance to the second round at the Australian Open – the second time he has cleared the first round in a Grand Slam and a first at AO. Nagal's other Grand Slam main draws were in 2019 and 2020 UP Open and 2021 Australian Open.

“Virat Kohli's foundation has been supporting me since 2017. I have not performed well in the last two years and faced a financial crisis. If Virat Kohli had not supported me, I don't know what I would have done,” Nagal told Bombay Times.

What a moment! 👏

Sumit Nagal becomes the first Indian to beat a seeded player at a Grand Slam since Ramesh Krishnan at the 1989 Australian Open. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/x5tlYOKGt1

— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) January 16, 2024

“Early this year (in 2019), when I flew from Canada to Germany after a tournament, I had six dollars in my wallet… only six dollars after the help I got, so imagine what a mess I must have been for .

'But I survived and things are getting better. If people fund athletes, it will only help the sport to flourish in the country. I am fortunate to have that support from Virat,” said Nagal. The Indian will next face 18-year-old Juncheng Shang of China, who defeated Mackenzie McDonald of the US. Notably, Shang is ranked 142nd in the ATP rankings.

If all goes well, Nagal could face world number two Carlos Alcaraz in the third round. Meanwhile, in the 2021 Australian Open, Nagal lost in the opening round to Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis. Nagal's only appearance in a second Grand Slam round came in the 2020 US Open against Dominic Thiem.