Seoul, Dhakshineswar Suresh made a confident start but could not sustain the momentum as South Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon fought back to beat the Indian in three sets and give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the Davis Cup Qualifiers Round 2 tie here on Friday.
The Indian lost 6-3 3-6 4-6. The Indian comfortably consolidated the break to move 3-0 ahead. Dhakshineswar looked in control early on but Kwon raised his game usually the way top players do, leaving the Indian without answers. Dhakshineswar earned the first break point with a volley winner and converted it when Kwon sent a backhand into the net, drawing the first blood.
Dakshineswar stayed solid, levelling at 1-1 with a forehand winner. The Indian saved one break point with a stunning backhand winner, but Kwon converted the second chance with a backhand winner to lead 4-2. At 2-2, Dhakshineswar earned a chance when a Kwon return error brought up deuce, but the Korean responded with a sizzling winner.
Kwon saved it with a volley winner and then fended off another set point before holding to stay alive. Kwon responded strongly in the second set, holding at love while mixing up his game and keeping points short. Kwon created two break points in the fourth game, but Dhakshineswar saved the first with an ace and the second with an overhead volley winner after countering a low lob. A double fault gave Kwon another opening, but the Indian escaped by pinning him to the backhand side before producing a winner. Another low bounce caused Dhakshineswar problems as the game went to deuce. A well-executed drop shot took the game to a second deuce before Kwon held.
Kwon’s pressure eventually told.
