"We will become more powerful." Korean tennis breaks through the slow court head-on... Kwon Soon-woo and Jung Hyun in doubles also emphasize "attack" [Davis Cup on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

"We will become more powerful."

The South Korean men's tennis national team, aiming for a historic first qualification to the Davis Cup Finals 8, faces the variable of "slow courts" head-on. Players including Kwon Soon-woo (150th, Chungnam Sports Council) and Jung Hyun (567th, Gimpo City Hall), as well as doubles pairs, emphasized bold and aggressive play rather than retreating to a defensive stance.

The South Korean national team held the official draw ceremony and press conference for the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers Round 2 against India at the Seoul Jamsil Lotte Hotel World on the 17th.

The match between South Korea and India will begin with two singles matches at 2 p.m. on the 18th at the Center Court of Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Stadium. On the 19th at noon, doubles matches will start first, followed by up to two additional singles matches if necessary.

First, the nation that secures three victories advances to the Final 8. If South Korea defeats India, it will reach the world quarterfinals for the first time in its history, 66 years after its debut at the 1960 Davis Cup.

One of the most notable variables ahead of this matchup is the court.

The center court at Olympic Park, where the matches are held, underwent extensive renovations about 40 years after the 1988 Seoul Olympics, including the replacement of seating for over 9,000 spectators. The court surface was also newly paved.

Players from Korea who experienced the court firsthand gave a consistent evaluation: it is a "slow court" where the ball does not move as fast as before.

However, Korea's choice was not a defensive style of play. Instead, the plan is to make a direct breakthrough with bolder and more aggressive tennis.

In his first match, Kwon Soon-woo said, "Most of the courts I have experienced while touring have been slow," and added, "I do not expect to make major changes to my playing style."

He also stated firmly, "We will be even more aggressive."

Kwon Soon-woo will face India's Daxineswar Suresh (world No. 368) in his first match on the 18th, according to the official draw results.

The importance of the first game is great. Jeong Jong-sam (CEO) team coach Kwon Soon-woo emphasized that controlling the early atmosphere could influence the flow of the entire match.

Coach Jeong said, "In the previous match, Jung Hyun played first, but this time Kwon Soon-woo will take on the opening singles," and added that if he can dominate his opponent in the first singles match, it could set a positive tone for the overall atmosphere.

Jung Hyun, who is also competing in the second round, did not view the slow court as a particularly burdensome factor.

Jeong Hyeon said, "It is certain that the court is slow," but added, "I don't think my overall game style will change. I need to enter the match and respond according to the situation."

Jung Hyun's opponent is India's ace Sumit Nagal (ranked 236th).

Jung Hyun said about Noh, "I know he is a player who runs very well and plays tightly," adding, "I will also step forward with the mindset of running a lot."

Doubles also featured "attack" as a key keyword. On the 19th, South Korea will field the team of Nam Ji-seong (Dangjin City Hall, doubles ranking 125th) and Park Ui-seong (Daegu City Hall, doubles ranking 334th).

Nam Ji-seong said, "We plan to play with a slightly slower tempo than usual but will still take bold actions," adding, "We will maintain our strengths, such as net play, in our strategy."

Park Ui-seong also emphasized strength and aggressiveness.

He explained that "since the court is on the slower side, he is considering tactics for returns and serves," adding that "he plans to play more aggressively from the back with power and force."

The direction is clear in both singles and doubles. Rather than waiting for opponents' errors due to the slower court, players are choosing to take the initiative and engage in aggressive play.

South Korea aims to make new history at home.

South Korea is ranked 16th in the Davis Cup national rankings, while India is ranked 19th. In their all-time head-to-head record, South Korea leads with six wins and five losses, though they lost to India in both of their most recent matchups in 2014 and 2016.

This time, they aim to avenge their defeat at home while simultaneously targeting their first-ever qualification for the Final 8.

Representative team ace Kwon Soon-woo said, "I have only seen what it means to reach the finals in videos," and expressed his anticipation by adding, "It is a tremendous honor to compete with representatives from just eight countries around the world while wearing the Taegeuk mark."

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*This content was translated by AI.