Maia Open ATP:<\/b> Sumit Nagal apologised to the Portuguese crowd for his talking gesture after securing a remarkable come-from-behind round-1 win over home favourite Henrique Rocha at the Maia Open ATP 100.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Nagal secured a stellar 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) win over second-seed Rocha in one hour and 21 minutes to march into the round of 16 in what was the Indian's first-ever match on indoor clay.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, he has apologised to the crowd and Rocha for his gesture following the win. \"To the crowd in Maia, I want to apologise for the talking gesture I made after the match. It was a heat-of-the-moment reaction, and it wasn\u2019t the right way to respond,\" Nagal wrote on his Instagram story.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I respect everyone who came out to watch, and I appreciate you being there. I\u2019ve also spoken to Henrique and apologised to him personally,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Nagal was on the verge of losing the match on multiple occasions. Rocha, who came into the match eight days after winning a special title in Porto, was serving to win the match twice in the third set when he was 5-4 up first and then 6-5 up. It was 4-4 in the third set when Nagal was serving.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, the Portuguese broke to lead 5-4 and was serving to close the match. That's when Nagal broke to level 5-5 before losing his serve to give Rocha a 6-5 lead as the second seed then served for the match, but Nagal yet again broke him to level 6-6 and push the match into a tie-break.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the tie-break, the Indian No.1 was 2-0 up and then 4-2 but conceded the next three points to be 4-5 behind. However, Nagal found enough to win the next three points and close the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Nagal will be facing either Portugal's Tiago Pereira or Luka Mikrut next in the pre-quarters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the tie-break, the Indian No.1 was 2-0 up and then 4-2 but conceded the next three points to be 4-5 behind. However, Nagal found enough to win the next three points and close the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Special Cricket Stories<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n