Sumit Nagal of Team India (Photo by Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images for ITF)
Nagal Reflects on Pressure Following Loss in Prague
Following his recent defeat in Prague, Nagal expressed significant concerns about the mental toll of competitive pressure. He stated, ‘I lost a match in Prague and I was driving back. And that’s when I realised, I said, man, like this is just not fun.’ He emphasized that the relentless pursuit of victory is unsustainable, adding, ‘I’m not going to survive like this if I keep putting pressure on myself that every match I step on, I need to win, win, win.’ This reflection highlights the challenges athletes face with mental health in high-stakes environments.
India’s top-ranked singles player Sumit Nagal has had a difficult 2026 season, with injuries disrupting his progress and pushing him down to No. 247 in the rankings. But the 29-year-old says he has changed his mindset and is now focused more on enjoying tennis than constantly worrying about results.
Because he wanted to represent the country, he returned early for India’s Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands in Bengaluru. Because it was Davis Cup and Team India,” Nagal told PTI, i came in early to play.
So I feel like it’s there, it’s just I need to work hard for it to go in my favour,” he said. I’ve always said it. Nagal started the year with a hip injury picked up during a Challenger event in Thailand. “I started the year with an injury, then played Davis Cup (in Bengaluru). I was always running behind time. “If it wasn’t for the Davis Cup, I would have taken the whole month off. “My last match in the US Open was a little bit unfortunate. I had a few break points and the guy ended up making the fourth round. “At the end of the day, it’s still a team sport. It shouldn’t be one guy leading the team. Of course, my help is there. I always want Indian tennis to do well. Never a question.”