Bengaluru, February 7 (.) “I wasn’t really moving. I wasn’t doing anything. I was just a sitting duck out there,” admitted India’s top singles player Sumit Nagal after a rollercoaster first-round clash against Netherlands’ Guy de Ouden in the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers here on Saturday.
Nagal battled back after a sluggish start, crediting a quick pep talk from his captain Rohit Rajpal for helping him reset mentally and mount a spirited second-set fightback, though the third set ultimately slipped away.
“Honestly, it was just about confidence. The longer I played, the more I trusted my legs, my running. The first set, I wasn’t running, I wasn’t doing anything. Just a sitting duck. Rajpal kept it simple—‘Believe in yourself, go for it, believe, believe, believe.’ That’s it, just backing yourself,” Nagal said.
The 26-year-old admitted the first set, which ended 0-6, was tougher than expected after a two-week break from competitive tennis. “I hadn’t played in weeks, coming out of injury. My mind wasn’t there, but I knew I could get through it. Most games went to deuce. Maybe the first set could’ve been different, but I was happy with how I came back in the second,” he said.
The third set, however, highlighted the fine margins of top-level tennis. “At 4-3, he was just a bit sharper. I hit a terrible volley at game point, missed a few crucial shots. 30-15, he hits the line. 30-all, unbelievable passing shot. 40-30, another bad volley from me. One-all, the one-love game—I could’ve played that better. Two forehand errors, two backhand errors. That’s tennis,” Nagal admitted.
On mental resilience, he added, “This has always been my challenge. Today, after losing the first set, I told myself 100 times, ‘You can do it, you can do it.’ No coaching, just me. Still disappointed about some points, but that’s sport.”
He praised the fans for their role in the match: “The crowd was amazing, loud, on top of their lungs. It’s an honor to play under them. You have to block distractions and trust your game.”
Physically, he’s ready for the road ahead. “Feeling okay. We had so many 40-all games. I was supposed to play five matches this week, and doing it in three weeks is tough. Proud of myself and the team. Three more matches to go.”
Reflecting overall, Nagal summed it up bluntly: “Tough match. First set was rough, third set a couple of crucial points went against me. He was a bit better. Learning experience. I gave everything, did my best.”
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