India scripted a historic moment in world tennis by qualifying for the Davis Cup qualifiers for the very first time. The milestone came after Sumit Nagal produced a stellar performance against reigning junior Australian Open champion Henry Bernet, securing a straight-set victory 6-1, 6-3 in the World Group I tie against Switzerland on Saturday. With this win, India sealed the tie 3-1 and booked its place in the January 2026 qualifiers.
The day started with N Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Bollipalli losing a close doubles match 7-6 (3), 4-6, 5-7 to Jakub Paul and Dominic Stricker. However, Nagal’s commanding victory ensured India’s triumph. Notably, this was India’s first win over a European team in an away Davis Cup tie in 32 years, the last being against France in 1993 when Leander Paes and Ramesh Krishnan led the side to glory.
Debutant Dhakshineshwar Suresh also played a crucial role in the tie, securing a win on the opening day, which gave India the momentum. Captain Rohit Rajpal’s decision to field Dhakshineshwar turned out to be a bold and game-changing move, marking Rajpal’s first major success since taking over the leadership in 2019.
For Nagal, this was a special comeback to the Davis Cup since his last appearance against Morocco in 2023. The Indian displayed confidence and consistency, capitalizing on Bernet’s unforced errors and breaking serve early in both sets to stay ahead. Bernet, despite his aggressive play and powerful single-handed backhand, could not match Nagal’s composure under pressure.
Speaking after the match, Nagal said, “It means a lot. It’s been a while since we won in Europe. We worked hard as a team and pushed each other. I’m very happy with the win.”
India will now look forward to the Davis Cup Qualifiers in January 2026, where the team hopes to continue its upward trajectory on the global stage.
