World Tennis League: Sumit Nagal Impresses in Doubles as TSL Hawks Triumph
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Abu Dhabi, Dec 20 (NationPress) India's leading singles competitor Sumit Nagal showcased an excellent performance in doubles as TSL Hawks, following a thrilling Super Shootout defeat in their first match, bounced back to secure a victory over the HonorFX Eagles with a score of 21-14 in Match 3 of the World Tennis League Season 3 at the renowned Etihad Arena on Friday.
Similar to the opening day, Aryna Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva displayed remarkable teamwork in the women’s doubles, dominating the set against HonorFX Eagles’ Iga Swiatek and Paula Badosa. Sabalenka and Andreeva jumped to a significant 5-0 lead, placing their opponents under pressure. Although the Eagles managed to hold serve and claim a game, Sabalenka and Andreeva quickly sealed the set 6-1, offering the TSL Hawks a vital advantage in the match with their clinical performance.
Sabalenka maintained her momentum into the women’s singles, facing off against Badosa, and delivered a dominant display to secure the set 6-2. This triumph further increased the TSL Hawks’ overall lead to 12-3.
In the men’s doubles, Alexander Shevchenko and Stefanos Tsitsipas managed an early break for the HonorFX Eagles in the third game. However, TSL Hawks’ Sumit Nagal and Jordan Thompson quickly retaliated, breaking back to equalize and taking a 4-2 lead. The Eagles fought back, leveling the score at 4-4, but Nagal and Thompson maintained their composure, ultimately closing out the set 6-4 to uphold the TSL Hawks’ commanding advantage over the HonorFX Eagles.
The critical set of the match was the men’s singles, where Shevchenko started strong, achieving a break in the third game and establishing a 5-1 lead. Although Nagal managed to secure one game, Shevchenko concluded the set 6-2, pushing the match into Over Time.
Nevertheless, Shevchenko faced a daunting task of equalizing the overall score from 13-20 to push the game into the Shootout and assist his team in earning bonus points. He began the OT positively, winning the first game, but Nagal held his ground, helping his team secure a stylish 21-14, marking their first win of the season.
Commenting on the defeat, Women's World No. 2 Swiatek stated, "We didn't win, but personally I felt good on the court. I only played doubles today and felt more solid than yesterday, but it still wasn't enough to surpass Aryna and Andreeva. The Hawks executed a nearly perfect match."
