Australian Open 2025: Sumit Nagal to face Czechia’s Tomas Machac in first round

Australian Open 2025: Sumit Nagal to face Czechia’s Tomas Machac in first round

Sumit Nagal, the only Indian in singles categories at the Australian Open 2025, got a tough draw on Thursday.

World No. 96 Nagal will be up against 26th-seeded Czech player Tomas Machac in the opening round in Melbourne. The two players have never faced each other. A win over Machac could mean a second-round fixture against big-serving American Reilly Opelka. The Indian is in the same section of the draw as the 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic.

The 24-year-old Machac won the gold medal in mixed doubles at the Paris Olympics with Katerina Siniakova. He reached his maiden Tour-level final in Geneva and also stunned four-time Major winner Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters last year.

Nagal had his breakout season last year. He started the Australian Open as a qualifier and went on to upset 31st seed Alexander Bublik in straight sets. Nagal became the first Indian man in 35 years to beat a seeded player in the main draw of a Grand Slam. The last one to do so before Nagal was Ramesh Krishnan, who had defeated top seed and defending champion Mats Wilander at the Australian Open in 1989.

Nagal clinched two Challenger Tour titles and also made his ATP Top 100 debut. He represented India at the Olympics and also got direct entry into the other three Majors.

Nagal has never gone past the second round at a Major.