China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that top Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal, who was denied a visa to travel to the country for the tournament, should submit his application to their embassy with all the required documents.
Nagal was scheduled to travel to Chengdu to take part in the Australian Open Playoff, which will give regional players entry into the 2026 Australian Open main draw.
On Tuesday, Nagal wrote on X that his visa had been rejected without reason and sought help from the Chinese ambassador in India.
Asked for a response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said China issues visas to athletes from all countries, including India, in accordance with laws and regulations.
He expressed hope that the person concerned would submit the application materials in time in accordance with the requirements of the Chinese Embassy in India.
The 27-year-old from Jhajjar in Haryana is currently the highest-ranked Indian singles player, ranked 275 in the latest ATP rankings.
Having lost his place in the top 100, Nagal cannot enter top events such as Grand Slams as a direct entrant and will depend on wild card entries or qualifiers.
Last year, he started in the main draw of the Australian Open, lost in the opening round and was eliminated in the qualifiers for Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
He played a key role in India’s Davis Cup victory over Switzerland, winning both his singles matches against lower-ranked players.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
November 13, 2025
