Sumit Nagal (Image credit: X) NEW DELHI: Indian tennis No.1 Sumit Nagal has issued a public plea to the Chinese authorities after his visa application to participate in the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off in Chengdu was reportedly rejected without explanation, raising serious doubts about his preparations for the Grand Slam.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Taking to social media platform X, the 28-year-old tagged the Chinese ambassador to India and the spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in New Delhi to take urgent action.“(URGENT) Respected @China_Amb_India and @ChinaSpox_India. I am Sumit Nagal, India’s No. 1 tennis player. I am scheduled to fly to China soon to represent India in the Australian Open playoffs. However, my visa has been denied without reason. Your urgent help would be greatly appreciated,” Nagal wrote.
The Chengdu event, scheduled for November 24-29, offers players from the Asia-Pacific region a direct main card to the Australian Open 2026. Organized by Tennis Australia in partnership with the Chinese Tennis Association, the tournament is a vital stepping stone for regional players seeking Grand Slam qualification.Nagal, currently ranked 275th in the world, enjoyed a career-best run last year when he broke into the top 100 and stunned 25th seed Alexander Bublík in the first round of the 2024 Australian Open. He also became the first Indian to win a Masters 1000 match on clay at the Monte Carlo Masters, cementing his position as India’s leading singles player.With his visa now denied, Nagal’s participation – and possibly a trip to the 2026 Australian Open – remains uncertain. The Chinese Embassy, All India Tennis Association (AITA) and Tennis Australia are yet to comment on the matter.
