Davis Cup Quarterfinalist Kwon Soon-woo: "No Repeating Hangzhou Dark History in Nagoya"

"This Asian Games, I will not make the same mistakes as back then."

With a bright expression after advancing to the Davis Cup quarterfinals, Kwon Soon-woo (Chungnam Athletic Council) burst into a hearty laugh, caught off guard when asked about his goals for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The Hangzhou Asian Games from three years ago remains a "dark history" for Kwon.

After losing 1-2 in the second round of the singles to Kasidit Samrej of Thailand, who was ranked in the 600s globally, he could not control his anger and repeatedly smashed his racket onto the court.

Not only did he fail to win the gold medal and miss out on the expected military service exemption, but he also faced criticism for unspontaneous and poor sportsmanship.

Having been discharged from the military this past summer, Kwon is raising expectations for a second prime of his career with significantly matured skills.

Following his advancement to the second round of the Wimbledon singles, he secured two singles victories single-handedly in the second round of the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers against India, which concluded on September 9 at the Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center, handing South Korea its first-ever ticket to the quarterfinals.

Now, as a member of the national team, he will train in Seoul before departing for Nagoya to take on the challenge for gold.

With an embarrassed smile, Kwon said, "There were mistakes during the last Asian Games. After serving in the military, I thought I had matured, but during the US Open, I felt like I was slipping back to how I was then."

He added that he would never repeat the "mistake" from Hangzhou.

The press conference room burst into laughter at Kwon's honest, albeit somewhat flustered, response.

When asked why he performs exceptionally well in the Davis Cup, Kwon answered, "Playing at home, I can draw energy from the fans' cheers, and wearing the Taegeuk mark makes me feel like I am not playing alone, but together with my teammates and fans."

He added, "Even in moments when I want to give up, those thoughts help me find the strength to push through."

At the Bologna Finals in Italy on November 24, the team will face powerhouses such as Italy, Spain, and the United States.

Expressing his confidence, Kwon said, "It looks like it will be fun no matter which team we play against."

Chung Hyeon (Gimpo City Hall), who co-led the team to the quarterfinals, stated, "I am truly happy to be part of the team that reached the quarterfinals for the first time in Korean history."

National team head coach Jeong Jong-sam remarked, "People say I am lucky to be working with such great players [like Kwon Soon-woo and Chung Hyeon], and I think I am lucky, too. I hope a second renaissance arrives for Korean tennis."

(Photo courtesy of the Korea Tennis Association, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.