"Racket-Smashing Dark Chapter? I've Completed My Military Service Now" Kwon Soon-woo Sets His Sights on Nagoya Gold with a Transformed Mindset [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] Kwon Soon-woo, the face of South Korean tennis, has put his painful past behind him with laughter and issued a mature declaration of intent ahead of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya.
Kwon Soon-woo made history as the first Korean tennis player to lead the country to the Davis Cup quarterfinals, putting on a one-man show by winning both singles matches in Korea's second-round tie against India in the 2026 Davis Cup Final Qualifying Round, which concluded at the Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center on the 9th.
With the excitement of reaching the Davis Cup quarterfinals still fresh, reporters asked Kwon Soon-woo about his goal for the upcoming 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya. Seemingly caught off guard, he burst out laughing and replied, "Not making the same mistake I made back then at this Asian Games," turning the press conference into a sea of laughter.

The "mistake" Kwon Soon-woo referred to was the so-called racket-smashing debacle at the Hangzhou Asian Games three years ago. After suffering a shocking 1-2 loss in the second round of the singles tournament to Thailand's Kasidit Samrej, who was ranked in the 600s at the time, Kwon lost his temper and repeatedly slammed his racket onto the court. It was a painful episode in which he not only missed out on military-service benefits as a leading gold-medal candidate but also faced criticism from media around the world as an "ill-mannered player."
Since completing his military service and being discharged last summer, however, Kwon Soon-woo has announced a perfect comeback with a more mature mindset and improved skills. After reaching the second round of the Wimbledon singles tournament and helping Korea reach the Davis Cup quarterfinals, he is widely regarded as enjoying a second prime.
Kwon Soon-woo joked, "I made a mistake at the last Asian Games, and after completing my military service, I thought I had matured. Of course, at the US Open, there were times when I felt as if I was slipping back into who I was then," before firmly stating, "I will never repeat the mistake I made at Hangzhou."

Asked why he performs particularly well in national team competitions such as the Davis Cup, Kwon Soon-woo said, "When I play wearing the Korean national colors, I don't feel as though I'm playing alone. I feel that I'm playing together with my teammates and the fans," adding, "Even when I want to give up, their support helps me find the strength to carry on." He credited the fans for his performances.
South Korea will face some of the world's strongest teams, including Italy, Spain and the United States, at the Bologna Finals in Italy on November 24. Kwon Soon-woo expressed strong confidence, saying, "It should be fun no matter which team we face."
Jeong Hyun of Gimpo City Hall, who helped lead Korea to the quarterfinals alongside Kwon Soon-woo, also said, "I am truly happy to be a member of the team that reached the quarterfinals for the first time in Korean history." Jeong Jong-sam, who leads the national team, shared his emotion, saying, "I consider myself lucky to be able to work with such good players. I hope another renaissance will come to Korean tennis."
After completing training in Korea, Kwon Soon-woo will depart for Nagoya, Japan, the site of the competition, with his national-team teammates to pursue South Korea's first Asian Games tennis gold medal in 12 years.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter