"66-Year Wait Finally Over" Kwon Soon-woo's Incredible One-Man Show Sends South Korea to Historic First Davis Cup Finals Quarterfinals

[Financial News] South Korean men's tennis has finally ended a 66-year wait. Led by an explosive one-man show from its ace, Kwon Soon-woo (No. 157, Chungnam Sports Council), South Korea made history by reaching the Davis Cup Finals quarterfinals for the first time.
In the singles match on the second day of the second-round Davis Cup Finals qualifying tie against India at the Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Courts on the 19th, Kwon Soon-woo decisively defeated India's Sumit Nagal (No. 247) 2-0 (6-1, 6-2). South Korea thus finished with a 3-1 overall record and achieved a historic milestone: its first-ever berth in the Davis Cup Finals quarterfinals, 66 years after making its Davis Cup debut in 1960.
Kwon Soon-woo was unquestionably the dominant figure who decided the tie. After leading off the singles matches on the 18th and securing a win, he delivered another flawless performance in the fourth singles match on the 19th, the result of which determined South Korea's advancement to the quarterfinals, proving the stature of an ace.
The momentum swung like a roller coaster. South Korea gained the upper hand on the 18th when Kwon Soon-woo and Jeong Hyun (No. 549, Gimpo City Hall) each came from behind to win their singles matches 2-1. But it faced a crisis on the 19th after the Nam Ji-sung (No. 112, Dangjin City Hall)-Park Ui-sung (No. 241, Daegu City Hall) pairing lost 1-2 (3-6, 6-3, 3-6) to India's Sriram Balaji (No. 49)-Daxinesh Suresh (No. 657) team in the day's opening doubles match.
Kwon Soon-woo, who took over in the fourth singles match, ended the tie in just 1 hour and 8 minutes. After complaining of severe cramps in his right leg immediately following his singles match on the 18th, he returned to the court the next day looking fully recovered and relentlessly attacked Nagal from the opening point. He fired one powerful winner after another, leaving Nagal unable to reach them, and easily took the first set. In the second, he broke his opponent's serve twice to seal the victory.

When South Korea's historic first quarterfinal berth was confirmed as his opponent's final shot landed outside the line, Kwon Soon-woo lay down on the court. His teammates rushed out, embraced one another and celebrated a new chapter in South Korean tennis history after 66 years.
The Davis Cup Finals is the most prestigious stage in men's tennis, where only the world's top eight nations compete.
Excluding host nation Italy, South Korea was the first country to secure a place in the Finals. The Finals, where a new chapter in South Korean tennis history will be written, will take place in Bologna, Italy, from November 24 to 29.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter