Tennis
Davis Cup qualifiers: India trail South Korea 0-2 after Day 1 as Nagal loses thriller - Highlights
All the highlights from the India vs South Korea Davis Cup qualifier
Indian Davis Cup players at the draw ceremony in Seoul on Thursday. (Photo credit: PTI)
India will play Republic of Korea in the second round of the Davis Cup 2026 Qualifiers at the Olympic Tennis Centre in Seoul. It is a two-day tie starting September 18 and will be played on hard courts.
The winner of the tie will progress to the Davis Cup Final 8, scheduled to be held in Bologna, Italy, in November.
On Friday, the first two singles rubbers will be played followed by doubles and the remaining singles reverse rubbers on Saturday.
World No. 367 Dhakshineswar Suresh will play the first singles rubber against Kwon Soon-woo while India’s top-ranked singles player Sumit Nagal, world No. 247, will be up against former Australian Open semi-finalist Chung Hyeon.
The Indian team is ranked 19th in the Davis Cup rankings and their opponent South Korea is ranked 16th.
Stay Tuned as we bring you LIVE updates from Seoul.
Live Updates
- 18 Sept 2026 3:18 PM IST
Game 1, Set 3 | Chung takes early lead!
Hyeon Chung has comfortably held serve to take the opening game of the deciding set, beating Sumit Nagal 40-0. Nagal now trails 0-1 as Chung gets the early advantage.
Sets are level at 1-1.
- 18 Sept 2026 3:16 PM IST
Game 1, Set 3 | Chung makes early move
Hyeon Chung has made a strong start to the deciding set, moving 30-0 ahead in the opening game. Sumit Nagal is now fighting to avoid an early setback as the two players battle for the crucial third set.
Sets are level at 1-1.
- 18 Sept 2026 3:08 PM IST
Sumit loses momentum, second set
Sumit seems to have lost his momentum in the latter half of the second set. From 4-4, he dropped two consecutive games to go down 4-6 and level the match at one set apiece.
With one set all, it will be crucial how Sumit bounces back. India already trails 0-1 in the tie after Dhakshineswar Suresh lost his opening singles rubber.
Score: Sumit 6-2, 4-6 Chung
- 18 Sept 2026 3:02 PM IST
Chung aces the ninth game
Four aces from the Korean takes him to a 5-4 lead in the second set.
Score: Sumit 6-2, 4-5 Chung
- 18 Sept 2026 3:00 PM IST
Chung breaks Sumit in eighth game
Sumit Nagal is on serve and technically only two games away from equalising the tie, if only he can hold on to the momentum.
In the eighth game, he finds a sharp cross-court forehand winner, but misses the very next point and looks visibly disappointed. The intensity and baseline rallies have increased. As many as two duces are played and finally the Korean tastes success and breaks the Indian to level at 4-all.
- 18 Sept 2026 2:49 PM IST
Game 7, Set 2 | Nagal survives marathon game to lead 4-3!
What a battle! Sumit Nagal has won an extraordinary seventh game after seven game points and repeated trips to deuce and advantage. The Indian finally gets over the line to move 4-3 ahead in the second set against Hyeon Chung.
Nagal leads 1-0 in sets.
- 18 Sept 2026 2:44 PM IST
Game 7, Set 2 | Intense battle!
The seventh game of the second set has turned into an intense battle, with Sumit Nagal and Hyeon Chung locked in a tight contest for control. With the set level at 3-3, neither player is giving an inch. And by far the longest game of the match so far.
Nagal leads 1-0 in sets.
- 18 Sept 2026 2:35 PM IST
Nagal restores parity!
Sumit Nagal has battled back to level the second set at 3-3, holding serve after trailing 2-3. The Indian has steadied himself after Chung's strong start to the set, with the contest finely poised once again.
Nagal leads 1-0 in sets.
- 18 Sept 2026 2:33 PM IST
Nagal inches closer in second set!
Sumit Nagal is mounting a spirited response after falling behind, moving to 40-15 in the sixth game as he looks to level the second set at 3-3. The Indian is finding his rhythm at the right moment, putting the pressure back on Hyeon Chung.
Nagal trails 2-3 in the set but leads 1-0 overall.
