Australian Open 2024: Sumit Nagal Disappointed After AITA Opts Not To Nominate His Name For Wildcard Entry, Says ‘Tennis Is Going To Die…’

Australian Open 2024: The tension between prioritising individual professional preferences over national duty is a familiar theme in sports, and this time, it has emerged within the tennis circuit. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has opted not to nominate Sumit Nagal for a wildcard entry into the 2024 Australian Open.

The decision follows Nagal's withdrawal from the Davis Cup tie against Pakistan scheduled to take place in the first week of February.

“Anil Dhupar (AITA secretary general) had called me and said he won't send the nomination since I said no to the Davis Cup. To be honest, getting this call from him and hearing him say this was a bummer. I really hope things will get better in future or else tennis is going to die even faster in India,” HT quoted Nagal as saying.

ALSO READ: FIFA Threatens Brazil With Suspension Over Presidential Election Intervention

Nagal clarified that his decision to skip the Davis Cup tie against Pakistan was primarily due to the grass surface, which he finds challenging.

“My opting out for Davis Cup (tie against Pakistan) was majorly because of it being played on grass. It is really sad to see this decision coming after looking at my performance in Lucknow and securing the win (in the Davis Cup World Group II tie against Morocco in September) for the country. I have missed Wimbledon for the same reasons as well in the past,” Nagal justified why he chose not to participate in the upcoming Davis Cup tie.

Nagal, who previously received a singles wildcard for the 2021 Australian Open, could have been in contention for a similar opportunity in 2024. However, AITA opted not to submit his nomination, as the federation is required to communicate the same by email to the organisers of the Australian Open for the wildcard entry.

ALSO READ: Yonex-Sunrise 85th Senior National Badminton C'ships: 16-Year-Old Anmol Kharb Clinches Title

Last month, Nagal, along with Mukund Sasikumar, opted out of India's Davis Cup tie against Pakistan, leading to dissatisfaction from AITA. Dhupar defended the decision, emphasising that players who decline to represent the country in the Davis Cup should not expect support from the federation.

“One cannot expect to pull out of a Davis Cup assignment for the country and then expect something in return from the federation. Why should we send anything from our end to nominate him? AITA had to take a stand against such things at some point,” HT quoted Dhupar as saying.

Since Nagal's appearance in the 2021 Australian Open, no Indian singles player has secured a spot in the main draw of a Grand Slam.