India’s tennis campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympics came to an abrupt end on July 28, 2024, as both Sumit Nagal in men’s singles and the doubles pair of Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji suffered first-round defeats against their French opponents.
Sumit Nagal’s Loss to Corentin Moutet
Sumit Nagal, ranked 80th in the world, faced off against France’s Corentin Moutet, ranked 68th, in a closely contested match.
Sumit Nagal was the first to take the court, facing France’s Corentin Moutet. Despite a strong start, Nagal ultimately lost the match in three sets with scores of 2-6, 6-4, 5-7. The match lasted two hours and 28 minutes, during which Nagal showcased his baseline skills but struggled to maintain momentum.
After losing the first set, he rallied to win the second but faltered in the deciding set, despite having an early break lead at 2-0.
Moutet’s strong play allowed him to secure the victory, advancing to the next round where he will face either Alex de Minaur or Jan-Lenard Struff.
Bopanna-Balaji Pair Eliminated in Men’s Doubles
Later in the day, the men’s doubles pair of Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji took on the French duo of Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Gael Monfils.
The match concluded in straight sets with a score of 5-7, 2-6. Bopanna, at 44, has hinted that this may be his last appearance in a multi-sport event, having already announced his retirement from the Davis Cup.
The Indian team struggled against the home crowd’s support and the powerful strokes of the French players, which disrupted their strategy and led to unforced errors
The quick exit of both players means that India will not add to its medal tally from tennis at these Olympics.
Bopanna, at 44, was the oldest Indian athlete in the contingent, while Balaji’s debut was marked by a challenging match against a well-supported home team.
With this early exit, the focus for the Indian contingent will shift to other sports, where athletes like Manu Bhaker and the badminton duo of Satwik-Chirag are set to compete in upcoming events, aiming to secure medals for the country.