India’s top-ranked male tennis player, Sumit Nagal, has appealed to Chinese authorities after being denied a visa to compete in the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off, scheduled to begin on November 24 in Chengdu.
Nagal, who is currently ranked 275 in the ATP singles standings, took to social media on Tuesday to urge the Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, and the Chinese Embassy for assistance.
“I am supposed to fly to China soon to represent India at the Australian Open Playoff, but my visa was rejected without reason. Your urgent help would be much appreciated,” he wrote.
The week-long tournament, held at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre from November 24-29, offers winners the chance to earn a main-draw spot at the 2026 Australian Open in Melbourne.
Nagal, 28, from Jhajjar, Haryana, has been part of India’s Davis Cup team since 2018. His career highlights include taking the opening set against Roger Federer at the 2019 US Open and winning the 2015 Wimbledon boys’ doubles title. Last year, he lost in the first round of the Australian Open and failed to qualify for the French Open and Wimbledon.
If the visa issue is not resolved swiftly, Nagal may miss the playoff, potentially jeopardising his chances to secure a wildcard entry into the 2026 Grand Slam season opener.
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