India’s top tennis player, Sumit Nagal, has asked for an annual payment of $50,000 to participate in Davis Cup matches for the country. He defended his request by stating that it’s common for professional athletes to be paid for representing their country. Nagal did not play in the recent Davis Cup tie against Sweden, citing a back injury, which also made him withdraw from the US Open men’s doubles event.
India’s Loss Against Sweden in Davis Cup
The Indian team, missing a singles specialist, lost 0-4 to Sweden in the Davis Cup World Group I tie. Without players like Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, and Sasikumar Mukund, who all declined to play for India, the team struggled. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) expressed disappointment at these top players’ refusal to play for the national team.
AITA Responds to Nagal’s Payment Request
On Thursday, the AITA revealed that Nagal had asked for an annual fee of $50,000 to participate in the Davis Cup. “Why should a player ask for money to play for the country?” questioned AITA. They pointed out that players are already paid a share of the prize money from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for participating in Davis Cup events.
For each World Group I tie, AITA receives about ₹30 lakh from ITF, of which 70% is distributed to the players, while 30% goes to cover administrative expenses. Other players did not ask for extra payments beyond their share of the prize money.
Nagal’s Defense: It’s Standard Practice
Nagal defended his stance through a social media post, stating that it’s normal for professional athletes to be paid for their participation in events, even when representing their country. He clarified that his decision wasn’t about personal gain and that his conversations with AITA were private.
Nagal withdrew from the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open two days after AITA’s statement, further defending his decision to miss the Davis Cup by saying he couldn’t risk worsening his injury. He emphasized that playing at less than 100% would harm both the team and his own health.
Ongoing Disputes and Criticisms
AITA was unhappy that Nagal, who had skipped the Davis Cup due to injury, recovered quickly enough to participate in another tournament. However, Nagal explained that short-term rest can sometimes make a big difference in recovering from injuries. He reiterated his commitment to the country, saying he looks forward to future opportunities to represent India.
Meanwhile, team captain Rohit Rajpal, who replaced Mahesh Bhupathi in 2019, faced criticism for his leadership. Some questioned why tennis players don’t go through selection trials like athletes in other sports, suggesting they should be chosen through a process before asking for payments similar to cricketers.
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