India’s Sumit Nagal climbed 18 places to a career-best 77th in the latest ATP rankings issued on Monday, improving his chance of sealing a spot in the Paris Olympics men’s singles draw.

Nagal has 713 ATP points. The improvement in his rankings was due to Nagal bagging the men’s singles crown at the Heilbronn Neckarcup 2024 Challenger event in Germany on Sunday, beating Switzerland’s Alexander Ritschard in a three-set thriller.

The Indian won 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 in the final that lasted two hours and 22 minutes. Rankings, as on Monday, will be the basis for deciding entries for the Games.

The top 56 players, both in men’s and women’s rankings, will attain automatic qualification for the Olympics but no more than four per country can play in the Games. That rule allows lower-ranked players to sneak into the draw.

Nagal looks good to secure the last available ranking-enabled spot in the draw. The last time India had a player in the Olympics main draw was the 2012 Games when Somdev Dev Varman made it thanks to a wildcard.

Sinner No.1

Jannik Sinner made his debut at No.1 in the ATP rankings on Monday, moving up one spot to replace the injured Novak Djokovic. The 22-year-old Sinner is the first player
from Italy to reach the top spot since computerized rankings began in 1973.

Carlos Alcaraz’s third major title allowed him to rise one place in the rankings to No. 2, with Djokovic at No. 3, and Zverev remaining at No. 4.

Iga Swiatek’s third consecutive championship at Roland Garros — her fourth there in five years and fifth major title overall — allowed her to increase what already was a large lead at No. 1 in the WTA rankings.

Coco Gauff climbed to a career-high No. 2.