India's Nagal heads into Thiem challenge with 'nothing to lose'

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Davis Cup Qualifiers - Croatia v India - Dom Sportova Hall in Zagreb, Croatia - March 7, 2020. India's Sumit Nagal in action against Croatia's Marin Cilic. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sumit Nagal, who became the first Indian to win a singles match at the U.S. Open in seven years when he beat Bradley Klahn on Tuesday, is counting on his underdog status to give him a mental edge against his next opponent, second seed Dominic Thiem.

Somdev Devvarman was the last Indian to get past the first round at Flushing Meadows in 2013 until Nagal beat American Klahn 6-1 6-3 3-6 6-1 to advance in New York.