Olympics : Nagal to clash with Istomin, Sania-Ankita to clash with Ukrainian pair
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal will take on Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in the first round of the men’s singles event at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Nagal, who qualified for the Olympics last week after a large number of players withdrew, will face 197th-ranked Uzbeks in the world in a draw that continues today.
If the 23-year-old Nagal, ranked 160 in the world, wins the match, he could face second seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia. Medvedev, playing under the ROC flag, will take on Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik in his first round match.
In women’s doubles, Indian pair of Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina will take on Ukraine’s Kichenok Twins- Nadia and Lyudmila in the first round.
Incidentally, the six-time Grand Slam champion had teamed up with Nadia to win the Hobart Open in 2020, her first tournament win after becoming a mother.
In men’s singles, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia will open his campaign for the gold medal against Bolivia’s Hugo Delian. Local star Naomi Osaka will open her Olympic campaign against China’s Zheng Saisai.
Great Britain’s Andy Murray, the current men’s singles Olympic winner, will face Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassim in the first round. In women’s singles, world number one Ashleigh Barty of Australia will take on Spain’s Sara Soribes Tormo in the first round.
Tennis competitions at the Tokyo Olympics will begin on 24 July and end on 1 August at the Ariake Tennis Park.
