Nagal’s US Open campaign ends with first round singles loss
India’s top-ranked men’s player Sumit Nagal bowed out of the US Open event after a straight-sets loss to world No 40 Tallon Griekspoor, of the Netherlands. Griekspoor started off the match on a strong note, winning the first two sets 6-1 and 6-3 before Nagal was able to put up a tougher challenge in the third set. The Indian got the first break of the third set in the 11th game to lead 6-5 and served for the set. However, the Dutchman broke back right away to take the set into a tiebreaker. Nagal led 6-4 and earned himself two set points. However, a forehand error from the Indian and a service winner from Griekspoor levelled the tiebreak at 6-6. The Dutchman then went the next two points to close out the win 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8) in two hours and 10 minutes on Court 15 at Flushing Meadows. Griekspoor will go on to play 21st seed Sebastian Baez in the second round. Nagal’s doubles partner Nishioka forced to pull out of the tournament Meanwhile, there was more bad news for Nagal as his doubles partner Yoshihito Nishioka was forced to pull out of the tournament after retiring during the fifth set of his first-round singles match. Nishioka was in the fifth set of his first round match against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic when he fell to the ground due to full body spasms and had to receive medical attention on the court. Nishioka/ Nagal will be replaced in the men’s doubles draw by an alternate team. This was Nagal’s third appearance in the US Open main draw (now 1-3 record here) and marked the first time that the 27-year-old Indian has competed in the main draw of all the four Grand Slams in the same season. The Sportz Planet Desk,Haresh Ramchandani
Wimbledon 2024: Carlos Alcaraz Makes Grand Slam History; Faster Than Federer, Nadal and Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz is making Grand Slam history quicker than the legendary Big Three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. By winning his fourth major title on Sunday, defeating Djokovic 6-2, 6-2 7-6(4) in the Wimbledon 2024 Final, Alcaraz has lifted four Slam trophies at the age of 21. Neither Djokovic, Federer, nor Nadal accomplished this feat at such a young age. ALCARAZ & THE BIG THREE’S FOURTH MAJOR TITLE PLAYER 4TH MAJOR TITLE AGE RECORD Roger Federer 2004 US Open 23 4-0 Rafael Nadal 2008 Roland Garros 22 4-2 Novak Djokovic 2011 US Open 24 4-2 Carlos Alcaraz 2024 Wimbledon 21 4-0 Djokovic, a record 24-time major champion, did not win his fourth Slam until the 2011 US Open, when he was 24. Nadal was 22 when he earned his fourth Slam crown at Roland Garros in 2008, and Federer was 23 when he reached the four-major mark at the 2004 US Open. Not only did Alcaraz accomplish the feat at a younger age than Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, but the Spaniard did so in significantly fewer Grand Slam matches. The 21-year-old has taken just 69 Slam matches (59-10) to win his fourth trophy at this level. ALCARAZ & THE BIG THREE: SLAM MATCHES TO EARN 4TH MAJOR TITLE PLAYER Slam Matches At 4th Major Grand Slam Winning % Roger Federer 79 77.2% (61-18) Rafael Nadal 81 84% (68-13) Novak Djokovic 134 82.1% (110-24) Carlos Alcaraz 69 85.5% (59-10) Federer needed 79 matches (61-18), Nadal took 81 matches (68-13), and Djokovic played 134 Grand Slam matches (110-24) before he claimed his fourth major title. Alcaraz’s winning percentage at the majors at the time of his fourth major triumph (85.5%) is better than Nadal’s (84%), Djokovic’s (82.1%), and Federer’s (77.2%) according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Alcaraz has won his first four Grand Slam finals, becoming just the second player in the Open Era to claim his first four major men’s singles finals. The only other player who did so was Federer, who was victorious in his first seven major finals. The Spaniard is just the sixth man in the Open Era to complete the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double, joining Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye