Despite a spirited fight, Sumit Nagal’s career at the 2020 US Open came to a head in the second round when second-most-imagined seed Dominic Thiem defeated him in straight sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Birthday boy Thiem, who turned 27 was a bit rusty in the first round, won the contest 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 against Nagal to advance to the third round of the US Open.
Next up for Thiem, who was runner-up at the Australian Open this year, is 2014 champion Marin Cilic of Croatia who beat Slovakian Norbert Gombos 6-3 1-6 7-6 (2) 7-5.
“He’s a true champion, one of the few active Grand Slam champions. He knows what it takes to win big games. It’s going to be tough,” Thiem said of his next opponent.
Nagal became the first Indian to win a singles match at the US Open in seven years after Somdev Devvarman (2013) when he beat Bradley Klahn. After hitting Roger Federer a set in his US Open appearance last year, Nagal has fared better this time: a second-round appearance.
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