I did everything I could to make a comeback, says Sumit Nagal

Having your best singles player under a fitness cloud ahead of a crucial Davis Cup match is never ideal preparation.

Indian captain Rohit Rajpal is said to have been experiencing this tension since Sumit Nagal retired from his second-round match in the Nonthaburi Challenger near Bangkok in Thailand just over three weeks ago.

However, at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium here on Thursday, Nagal expressed happiness that his comeback was on track with the Davis Cup qualifier against the Netherlands starting on Saturday.

“I feel better every day,” Nagal said after practice.

“For me, the camp started right after Bangkok. I have been working a lot in the last two to three weeks. I have no complaints. I have done everything I could to prepare.”

The 28-year-old admitted there were fears the muscle tear in his hip could force him out for much longer.

“You don’t know how you’re going to recover,” Nagal explained.

“Every day you wake up, you don’t know if you’re going to be in pain or how much trouble you might be in. The thoughts were there for the three weeks. Even yesterday, even today. The first match [after injury] is always like that. But you name it, I did it.”

The friendly team atmosphere that a Davis Cup match provides should calm his nerves and energize him.

“The environment is beautiful,” said the world number 281. “We joke a lot and we make newcomers do a lot of stupid things. Wherever I see my Indian friends, I am with them.

“It’s hard at Slams because our schedules are different, the venue is so big and everyone is spread out.

“But when we get the chance, we always do things together.”