Sumit Nagal Withdraws from Davis Cup

Sumit Nagal, India's top-ranked men's singles tennis player, has withdrawn from the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Sweden due to a persistent back injury. The match is set to take place on September 14-15 in Stockholm, and Nagal expressed disappointment over missing the opportunity to represent his country. He was advised by doctors to rest for two weeks, which he feels is necessary to prevent the injury from worsening, especially after recently withdrawing from the US Open doubles. Nagal, who reached a career-high ranking of 68 in July but has since dropped to 82, emphasized the importance of prioritizing his health to finish the season strong. His absence is a significant blow to the Indian team, which will also miss veteran Yuki Bhambri and has seen Sasikumar Mukund suspended. Aryan Shah, a young player ranked 656, may be called up as a reserve in Nagal's place.