Jobaaj Stories
India’s Sumit Nagal made a strong performance on Sunday by defeating France’s Adrian Mannarino in straight sets to qualify for the main draw of the ATP 250 Auckland Open. The match ended with scores of 7-5, 6-2, as Nagal cruised through the second set after a tougher opening.
Seeded eighth in the qualifying rounds, Nagal faced a difficult challenge against Mannarino, who is currently ranked World No. 66 but has previously reached a career-high ranking of 17. Despite Mannarino’s experience, Nagal played solidly and won the match with a convincing performance. In the first set, Nagal won 7-5, and then he took control in the second set, wrapping it up 6-2.
Earlier in the tournament, Nagal had to work hard to defeat local wildcard player Alexander Klintcharov in a three-set match. In this encounter, Nagal lost the first set but bounced back strongly in the next two sets to secure his spot in the final qualifying round.
With this win, Nagal has now qualified for the main draw of the tournament and is set to face Alex Michelsen from the USA in the first round. Michelsen is coming off a Round of 16 loss to Australia’s Jordan Thompson at the 2025 Brisbane International, and will be eager to make a strong comeback in Auckland.
This victory marks an important moment for Nagal as he continues to improve his game and compete at higher levels. His win over Mannarino demonstrates his growing confidence and skill on the ATP tour. Fans are excited to see how he performs in the main draw of the Auckland Open and are hopeful for his progress in the upcoming matches.
