India’s Davis Cup Hopes Dashed in Seoul
File image of Sriram Balaji & Dhakshineswar Suresh(Photo: @India_AllSports/X)
Seoul, Sep 19 : India’s ambition to become the first Asian nation to reach the revamped Davis Cup Final 8 was thwarted on Saturday as Korea triumphed with a 3-1 victory in the Qualifier Round 2 held in Seoul.
Entering the tie with hopes of making history after their earlier win against the Netherlands, India faced a challenging situation after losing both of the initial singles matches. The visitors managed to stay in contention with a spirited performance in doubles, but Korea ultimately sealed the tie in the fourth rubber.
Dhakshineswar Suresh and N Sriram Balaji provided a glimmer of hope for India by winning their doubles match 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 against the Korean duo. After dropping the second set, the Indian pair regained their composure in a tense final set, breaking their opponents to serve for the match.
With India needing to win both remaining singles matches, the pressure was on Sumit Nagal. However, Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon delivered a dominant performance in the crucial reverse singles, leaving little room for Nagal to mount a comeback.
Kwon took control early, winning the first set 6-1. Although Nagal fought to stay competitive in the second set, Kwon continued to dictate play, ultimately winning 6-2 and securing Korea’s place in the Davis Cup knockout stage.
This defeat concluded what had been a promising campaign for India, delaying their quest for a first appearance in the Final 8 of the newly formatted Davis Cup.
Korea’s victory marks a significant milestone for Asian tennis, as they become the first team from the continent to qualify for the knockout stage under the current format.
India’s doubles win had hinted at a potential turnaround. Suresh and Balaji applied pressure from the start, taking the first set before Korea tightened their game in the second. However, India regained their focus when it mattered most in the deciding set.
The crucial breakthrough came late in the third set when India finally managed to break the Korean serve, allowing Balaji to serve for the match. The duo held their nerve to complete the comeback and keep India’s hopes alive.
Unfortunately, those hopes were short-lived, lasting only one more rubber. India will now participate in the Qualifier Round 1 in 2027. This tie in Seoul may also signify the end of Rohit Rajpal’s captaincy, as his current contract extends until December 2026, with no announcements regarding an extension yet.