Sumit Nagal wins second ATP Challenger, will now move into top 135

Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal beat Facundo Bagnis in the final of the Buenos Aires Challenger to win his career's second Challenger title on Sunday. He beat the Argentine 6-4, 6-2 in the finals of the Challenger. He wrapped up the win in an hour and 37 minutes. Nagal also participated in the men's doubles with Federico Coria but could not get past the quarterfinals, where the pair lost 2-6, 3-6. 

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Fantastic run towards the end of the season

Nagal won his first Challenger at the Bengaluru Open in 2017. The win on Sunday will assure him of a top-135 ranking. Nagal has had a fantastic year, which saw him qualify for his first-ever Grand Slam, the US Open. He bowed out in the first round of the US Open, but not before winning a set against tennis legend Roger Federer. 

After winning the title in Buenos Aires, in a post on social media, Nagal said, "Thanks to all the people for your kind message and the support you have been giving me." Nagal was seeded seventh in the tournament. Nagal became the first Asian to win the tournament and only the fourth non-Argentine to win the tournament. 

READ | Sumit Nagal loses to Griekspoor in the Banja Luka Challenger Final

Higher and higher

He is currently ranked 161st in the world, but the win on a Sunday and a string of good performances in tournaments has seen him climb the rankings list. Nagal, however, will have no time to soak up the win and relish since he will be flying to Brazil to play in the Campeonato Internacional de Tênis de Campinas, another Challenger, which begins this week. However, he will directly play the Round of 16 in the tournament. 

Nagal's win won him a lot of praise from fans and tennis lovers across the country, including Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of State of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Rohan Bopanna. The Union Minister tweeted that it was a brilliant performance and extended his congratulations to the 22-year-old. Bopanna also congratulated him for his "superb efforts".

Nagal played in his second consecutive finals, with the first one being the Banja Luka Challenger in Bosnia & Herzegovina. He lost the final to Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.

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