 "Sumit Nagal finished second-best at the ATP Challenger tournament in Perugia, Italy. Image: X/Sumit Nagal")
Sumit Nagal produced a weak effort to go down against Italy’s Luciano Darderi in a lop-sided final of the ATP Perugia Challenger on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Nagal was no match for Darderi, losing 1-6, 2-6 in little over one hour in the summit clash as he failed to claim his third title this year.
Nagal had advanced to the final with a fighting 7-6 (2), 1-6, 6-2 win over former world No. 37 Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain.
But the Indian was no match for his Italian opponent, having his serve broken six times. On the other hand, Darderi was lethal on his serve with 96% first serve points won (22/23) and 36% (5/14) on the second.
Surge to the final allowed the 26-year-old Nagal to climb to a career-high World No. 71, jumping six places, to 777 points.
The Indian had won two Challenger Tour titles this year: Chennai in February and Heilbronn last week. The year began with a historic second round outing at the Australian Open, first round exit at the French Open with first appearance at Wimbledon in the offing followed by the Paris Olympics at Roland Garros.