India’s top singles player Sumit Nagal will embark on his Paris Olympics campaign with a challenging first-round encounter against French opponent Corentin Moutet. Nagal, currently ranked 80th in the world, holds a 2-2 head-to-head record against Moutet, who is ranked 68th.
If Nagal emerges victorious from the opening round, he could potentially face a formidable opponent in the second round: Australian world number six Alex di Minaur. Di Minaur, who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals this year, withdrew from his last-eight clash against Novak Djokovic due to a hip injury.
In the men’s doubles, Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji will face the French team of Fabien Reboul and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. Bopanna, a seasoned doubles specialist, has previously partnered with Roger-Vasselin on the ATP Tour.
This Olympics marks Bopanna’s final opportunity to secure an Olympic medal. In 2016, he narrowly missed out on a podium finish, placing fourth in the mixed doubles event with Sania Mirza.
Nagal’s Olympic debut is a significant milestone for Indian tennis. His performance in Paris will be closely watched by fans and experts alike, as he aims to make a deep run in the tournament and potentially challenge some of the world’s top players.