“Simply 900 Euros In My Account, Not Dwelling A Very Good Life”: India’s No. 1 Tennis Participant Sumit Nagal

After arranging for a sustenance price range of Rs one crore that retains him happening the ATP Tour, India’s primary tennis participant Sumit Nagal is left with lower than Rs one lakh in his checking account and a morose feeling of not main an excellent life. He has been coaching on the Nansel Tennis Academy in Germany for just a few years however lack of funds meant that he couldn’t prepare at his favorite place within the first three months of season 2023.

His associates Somdev Devvarman and Christopher Marquis helped him keep in form in January and February earlier than he lastly managed to fund his keep in Germany.

The fund crunch is the story of in all probability each Indian tennis participant however the truth that the nation’s primary singles participant is just not saving sufficient cash for himself and his household simply exposes the unhelpful system and the brutal Tour the place the gamers wage lonely battles.

To remain and play on the extravagant ATP Tour, Nagal has invested all his prize cash, his wage from IOCL and the help he will get from Maha Tennis Basis.

The expenditure goes into his keep on the coaching centre in Peine and his journey for tournaments together with both his coach or a physio.

“If I have a look at my financial institution stability, I’ve what I had initially of the yr. It’s 900 euros (approx Rs 80,000). I did get a little bit of assist. Mr Prashant Sutar helps me with MAHA Tennis Basis and I additionally get month-to-month (wage) from IOCL however I haven’t got any massive sponsor,” Nagal advised PTI in an interview.

Nagal’s racquet, footwear and attire wants are being taken care of by Yonex and ASICS respectively.

This yr in 24 tournaments performed, Nagal has earned about 65 lakh along with his greatest pay cheque coming from the US Open the place he misplaced the primary spherical of the Qualifiers and nonetheless pocketed USD 22,000 (approx Rs 18 lakh).

“I’m investing no matter I’m making. The yearly value the place I journey with one coach is costing me round 80 lakh to 1 crore and that’s simply with one travelling coach (no physio). No matter I’ve made I’ve already invested.

“I really feel like I’m missing help regardless of being India’s primary participant for previous few years. I’m the one participant to qualify for Grand Slams, solely participant to win a (tennis) match on the Olympics (Tokyo) in previous couple of years, and nonetheless the federal government has not added my title to the TOPS.

“I felt when my rating dropped after damage, nobody needed to assist me, nobody actually believed that I might be again. That was disappointing as a result of I really feel no matter I do is just not sufficient. It is so arduous to search out monetary help in India. To be trustworthy I have no idea what to do, I’ve given up.”

The son of a main faculty instructor in Punjabi Bagh, Nagal fought off-court battles final yr when he underwent a hip surgical procedure and likewise contracted COVID a few occasions.

It was not stunning that he started to doubt if he’ll ever get again to tennis courts. Sitting and ready isn’t straightforward for an athlete.

“Rehab took six months, then coming again to play took one other six months. I’d say I took a year-and-a-half, simply to really feel okay.

“It was in mid-summer final yr after I began feeling higher. I misplaced just a few matches I ought to have received, I misplaced matches from match-points or when serving for a match and after I was a set and a break up. I received COVID twice final yr, so I had lengthy, lengthy two years.

“I haven’t got something in financial savings. I’m simply breaking even. I can’t say I reside an excellent life or the place I say I needn’t work. I didn’t earn something within the final two years so I’m joyful that I’m breaking even. At the very least I’m not in minus the place I’ve to go away academy and journey alone.” Nagal stated his coaches suggested him to economize after which get again to Germany.

“I sat with Sasha Nansel (his coach) and Milos (his health coach). They stated you do just a few issues your self and attempt to save as a lot cash as attainable in India and we begin once more in April once more.

“I journey with one of many two, and that is simply the fundamental. I’m not saying I need to keep at a 5 star lodge, nothing like that, that is simply the fundamental.” A have a look at the ATP singles chart exhibits that Nagal is best-ranked Indian at 159. The following finest is Sasikumar Mukund, means again at 407.

Out of motion Prajnesh Gunneswaran is additional behind at quantity 540 and is adopted by Digvijay Pratap Singh (554) and Ramkumar Ramanathan (569).

Nagal rues that Indian singles gamers not simply lack the monetary help but additionally the steering.

“We lack funding, we lack the system. If there’s a system, there will likely be funding. China has cash. Now we have potential like China. Why can we win simply 5-6 medals in Olympics however China received 38 gold (in Tokyo).

“We’re 1.4 billion, we will match them in expertise however why we don’t make it to excessive degree? The steering is lacking. In tennis, we’re far-off from competing at high.

“I’m enhancing. I do really feel I’ve the sport. If my physique is sweet and I’m enjoying tournaments, I really feel I’m prepared (for giant leap).”

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