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Sumit Nagal became the first Indian with a victory at the US Open in seven years, defeating Bradley Klahn in the first round to set the clash against world no. 3 Dominic Thiem. World 124 needed two hours and 12 minutes to dismiss the American 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, securing his first Major victory with a strong performance on both serve and return.
Sumit got broken only once from two chances offered to Bradley, losing the third set and dominating the others to find himself over the top, securing a clash against a player from the top, just like a year ago. In his first Major encounter at the US Open 2019, Nagal took a set away against the five-time champion Roger Federer before losing in four sets, saying he doesn't have anything to lose against Thiem.
Federer took down Nagal 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and 30 minutes of entertaining tennis. Roger hit 61 winners and 57 unforced errors, finding his strokes after the opener and fending off ten out of 13 break chances offered to Sumit.
The Swiss grabbed seven breaks and that made all the difference. Serving at 48%, Federer struggled to control the pace in his service games in the opener, taking only five points behind the second serve and suffering two breaks from four chances offered to Nagal.
The Swiss broke at 15 in the second game after a backhand winner, losing the next one thanks to a double fault that kept Nagal in the set. Sumit served well in the rest of the set and broke Roger at 15 in game nine to move in front after a terrible forehand from the five-time champion who found himself 6-4 down when the Indian hit a service winner in that tenth game.
Federer held after a couple of deuces at the beginning of the second set and converted the fourth chance for a break in game two that pushed him ahead after a double fault from Sumit.
Sumit Nagal played against Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem in New York.
The Swiss earned another break in game four with a forehand winner and sealed the set following a marathon game seven, fending off two break chances and seizing the seventh set point for a 6-1 and the momentum ahead of the remaining sets.
The third set was fast and fluid, with Federer losing four points behind the initial shot and delivering two breaks for a 6-2, looking good to move over the top in set number four. Roger broke at love in the first game when Sumit netted a backhand, adding another to his tally in game five and bringing the set home after a volley error from the Indian at 5-2 to move closer to the finish line.
From 2-0 up in the fourth set, Roger suffered a break in game four to keep Nagal in contention, unable to reach the Indian's forehand and having to start all over from there. The Swiss broke again in the next game thanks to a loose forehand from Sumit, serving well in the rest of the encounter and clinching the victory in game ten after fending off four break points that could have made things more serious for him.
Sumit will now try to challenge Dominic Thiem, who didn't play at his best in Cincinnati last week. "I've got nothing to lose against Dominic Thiem. Last year I played Roger Federer, and this year, Thiem. It's going to be a great match despite the fact I'm not the favorite," Sumit Nagal said.