India's Sumit Nagal gave the crowd at the RK Khanna Tennis Complex in New Delhi on Sunday much to cheer about but injuries ultimately got the better of him as he lost 3-6, 6-1, 3-6 against Spain's Marc Lopez. Spain lead their World Group Play-off against India 4-0, following victories on Friday and Saturday.
Lopez was in cruise control in the first set and it looked like another heavy defeat was on the cards for India, who were already knocked out of the tournament. Nagal was not getting enough power on his returns and Lopez raced to a 4-1 lead in the game. Towards the end of the first set though, there was enough evidence that the 34-year-old Spaniard was not going to have it easy in the second set.
Nagal's athleticism and forehand returns were threatening, and finished the first set on a high. The Indian truly came into his own in the second set. It looked like he sprang to life, and his placement was top notch. His senior opponent, who might have been suffering from a bit of complacency at that stage, was pushed to the flanks. Nagal continued his onslaught with a series of break points and eased to victory in the second set, winning it 6-1.
The 19-year-old Nagal called for a medical time-out after taking a 1-0 lead from the third set but seemed like he had recovered after racing to a 3-0 lead. The injury finally took a toll on the Indian, who unfortunately lost six straight games to lose the set and the match.
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