Australian Open 2025: Sumit Nagal Crashes Out in First Round, Loses in Straight Sets to Tomas Machac

India's Sumit Nagal crashed out in the first round of the men's singles competition of the Australian Open 2025 following a straight sets loss to Czechia's Tomas Machac at Melbourne Park on Sunday (January 12).

The 27-year-old Nagal, 91st in the ATP Rankings for singles, lost the men's singles opener against world No. 25 opponent by a scoreline of 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 in two hours and five minutes.

The only Indian tennis player competing in singles at the Australian Open, Nagal started the match strongly and lost just two points from his first three service games. However, Machac, who reached the fourth round at the US Open last year, broke Nagal's serve in the seventh game to lead 4-3 before clinching the set by dominating the subsequent games.

In the second set, Nagal had an early chance to break Machac in the opening game, but the Czech player held firm, saving the breakpoint. From there, Machac seized control, wrapping up the set in just 36 minutes as Nagal struggled to keep up.

Trailing by two sets, Nagal mounted a spirited fightback in the third set, securing an early break and racing to a 3-0 lead, which he extended to 5-3. However, a flurry of errors, including another double fault, allowed Machac to stage a comeback with a crucial break.

Last year, Sumit Nagal had made the main draw via the qualifying rounds and stunned Kazakhstan's world No. 27 Alexander Bublik in the opening round to become the first Indian men's tennis player to defeat a seeded player in a Grand Slam since Ramesh Krishnan in 1989. Nagal, however, fell in the next round after losing to People's Republic of China's Juncheng Shang.

Meanwhile, Indian interest continues in the doubles event starting Tuesday (January 14). Defending men's doubles champion Rohan Bopanna, who won the Grand Slam with Australia's Matthew Ebden in 2024, will team up with Colombia's Nicolas Barrientos this year.

Other Indian players in action include Yuki Bhambri with France's Albano Olivetti, N Sriram Balaji alongside Mexico's Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela, and Rithvik Bollipalli partnering the USA's Ryan Seggerman.