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Sumit Nagal Apologises To Portuguese Crowd For Post-Match Gesture At Maia Open
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News18•13-10-2026, 09:48
Sumit Nagal Apologises To Portuguese Crowd For Post-Match Gesture At Maia Open
- •India's top-ranked tennis player Sumit Nagal issued an apology to spectators in Maia, Portugal, following a controversial talking gesture made after defeating local favourite Henrique Rocha.
- •Nagal secured a hard-fought 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 victory in the first round of the Maia Open but faced boos from the crowd due to his heated post-match reaction.
- •The Indian tennis star took to Instagram to express regret, stating it was a heat-of-the-moment response and confirming he also apologized to Rocha personally.
- •The victory comes during a challenging 2026 season for Nagal, which has been disrupted by hip and wrist injuries following a prior title win in Romania.
Key Questions Answered
Sumit Nagal apologized after making an inappropriate talking gesture towards spectators in the heat of the moment following his tense first-round victory over home favourite Henrique Rocha at the Maia Open.
Sumit Nagal battled past Portuguese player Henrique Rocha with a score of 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5) to secure a dramatic first-round victory at the Maia Open.
Sumit Nagal's 2026 season was initially disrupted by hip and wrist injuries, but he later showed a revival by winning the ATP Challenger 75 title in Târgu Mureș, Romania, reaching a Czech Republic Challenger semi-final, and playing in the Asian Games.
