BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — India’s top-ranked male tennis player is appealing to Chinese authorities after saying he was denied a visa to compete in an Australian Open wild-card playoff tournament beginning Nov. 24 in Chengdu.
Sumit Nagal took to social media to ask the Chinese ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, and the Chinese embassy to intervene on his behalf.
“I am supposed to fly to China soon to represent India at the Australian Open playoff,” Nagal posted Tuesday. “But my visa was rejected without reason. Your urgent help would be much appreciated.”
Australian Open officials were asked for comment on Wednesday. The 2026 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam event of the year, begins Jan. 18 in Melbourne.
Relations between the two Asian powers and with the two largest populations in the world have improved recently. India and China last month planned to resume direct flights between some of their cities after a five-year suspension as the relations between the two countries begin to thaw.
