Sumit Nagal to Face Moutet in Paris Olympics Opener, Could Meet Di Minaur in Round 2

Sumit Nagal to Face Moutet in Paris Olympics Opener, Could Meet Di Minaur in Round 2

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.

Moutet's Ringing Phone Interrupts Djokovic Clash in Rome

Moutet’s Ringing Phone Interrupts Djokovic Clash in Rome

Tennis: Moutet’s Ringing Phone Interrupts Djokovic Clash in Rome

In a bizarre incident at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Friday, Corentin Moutet’s ringing phone interrupted his second-round match against world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

With the score poised at deuce in the first game of the second set, play was halted as the crowd at Campo Centrale searched for the source of the sound. Moutet, the 25-year-old lucky loser, quickly realized it was his phone and sprinted to his bench to silence it.

The incident drew laughter from the crowd, Djokovic, and umpire Carlos Bernardes. Moutet even pretended to answer the phone before silencing it, eliciting more amusement from the fans.

Djokovic took the interruption in stride, winning five straight games to take the first set. He lost just one game in the second set, securing a 6-3, 6-1 victory.

“Corentin is a very talented player, has great hands and is very unpredictable,” Djokovic said after the match. “You don’t know what comes up next, and I had to stay focused, which I did.”

Ringing phones are not uncommon at tennis events, but it is rare for players to be the source of the interruption. However, this is not the first time a French player has experienced such an incident. Twelve years ago, Alizé Cornet’s phone rang as she faced match point against Caroline Wozniacki in Bastad, Sweden. Earlier this year, Harold Mayot’s phone went off during his match with Cameron Norrie in Barcelona.

The lighthearted moment was followed by a more concerning incident for Djokovic. As he left the court after the match, he was struck in the head by a water bottle while signing autographs. He received medical attention and was able to leave the court on his own.

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