Seoul, September 18 (Daily Kiran) : The Davis Cup qualifiers took a challenging turn for India as they faced Korea in Seoul on September 18, 2026. The first day of the second round proved difficult for the Indian team, with both Southeshwar Suresh and Sumit Nagal losing their matches despite early leads, leaving India trailing 0-2.
Korea is now just one win away from securing a spot in the Davis Cup quarter-finals. This marks the first time that Sunwoo Kwon and Hyun Chung have achieved victory against India’s top two singles players. The momentum shifted in the afternoon session when Kwon handed Suresh his first defeat in the Davis Cup, coming back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Suresh started strong, breaking Kwon’s serve in the opening game. However, the Korean player, buoyed by local support, struggled initially on the slow court. The second set saw Kwon adopt an aggressive return strategy, which led to Suresh committing four double faults. Kwon capitalized on this and broke Suresh’s serve in the sixth game to claim the set.
In the deciding set, Suresh again began well but Kwon maintained the pressure, breaking Suresh’s serve in the sixth game. Kwon’s effective backhand shots earned him the first match point for Korea in the ninth game, which Suresh managed to save, but Kwon closed out the match in the following game.
After the match, Kwon expressed his nervousness, stating, “I felt a lot of anxiety today. Initially, I couldn’t see clearly. However, I started to feel more comfortable from the second set onward. I tried to understand his service patterns and managed to improve my return position.”
Kwon recorded seven aces and won 92% of his first serve points, showcasing an impressive performance. Meanwhile, India’s top-ranked player, Nagal, appeared to be on track to level the match against Chung after establishing a 4-0 lead in the evening session. However, Chung had other plans and ultimately triumphed in a grueling contest lasting three hours and five minutes, winning 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Nagal broke Chung’s serve twice in the first set, taking a 5-2 lead before securing the set. Despite Chung saving four set points, Nagal emerged victorious. The second set featured long rallies and tense service games, but Nagal couldn’t maintain his advantage after breaking Chung’s serve to lead 4-3. A double fault in the next game allowed Chung to capitalize and win the second set, forcing a deciding set.
In the final set’s fourth game, Chung continued his aggressive play, but Nagal responded by breaking Chung’s serve shortly after. The match saw both players battling physical and mental challenges, with momentum swinging back and forth.
At 5-5, Nagal succumbed to pressure, committing a double fault that handed Chung a match point. The Korean player seized the opportunity, securing a 2-0 lead for Korea. Chung reflected on the match, saying, “When I broke his serve at 3-3 in the second set, I felt a sense of relief. I believed my opponent might be under pressure to close the match. I was confident I would get at least one chance to turn the match around.”
Now, India must secure victories on the second day of the tie. The day will kick off with a doubles match, followed by two reverse singles matches. Korea needs just one more win to clinch the tie and confirm their place in the Davis Cup quarter-finals.
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