Sumit Nagal falters again as India suffer 1-3 defeat to South Korea in Davis Cup

Dhakshineswar Suresh and N Sriram Balaji kept India alive with a gritty three-set doubles win after the team fell 0-2 behind. However, Sumit Nagal failed to complete the comeback, losing 1-6, 2-6 to Soonwoo Kwon as South Korea advanced to the Davis Cup Final 8.Sumit Nagal falters again as India suffer 1-3 defeat to South Korea in Davis Cup. Courtesy: ReutersIndia's hopes of reaching the Davis Cup Final 8 for the first time under the new format were revived by Dhakshineswar Suresh and N Sriram Balaji, but Sumit Nagal could not complete the comeback as South Korea beat India 3-1 in Seoul on Saturday.Trailing 0-2 after the opening singles, India needed to win both matches on Day 2 to keep their campaign alive. Suresh and Balaji delivered when it mattered, beating Ji Sung Nam and Uisung Park 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in a tense doubles rubber to bring India within one victory of a historic qualification.The Indian team had made a change before the doubles, replacing Niki Poonacha with Suresh, who was paired with the experienced Balaji in the do-or-die rubber.SURESH, BALAJI KEEP INDIA ALIVEThe decision immediately paid dividends as the Indians came out aggressively, repeatedly putting pressure on Nam's serve. They created four break opportunities in one game before finally making the Koreans crack, with Balaji producing a volley winner to secure the breakthrough. Balaji was particularly assured on serve while Suresh complemented him with aggressive returns and sharp play at the net. India carried that momentum through the opening set, closing it out 6-3.The Koreans responded in the second set, tightening up their service games and making fewer errors. The turning point came when Balaji was broken after a Nam winner and a double fault handed South Korea the advantage. Nam consolidated the break and Korea levelled the contest. The decider was a nervy affair, with neither pair willing to give away easy points. Suresh and Balaji continued to apply pressure, though, and eventually broke Nam to love in the eighth game.With Balaji serving for the match, the Koreans pushed India to 30-30. But Suresh produced two decisive winners in succession, including the match-clinching shot, to seal a memorable victory and cut the deficit to 1-2.India had their chance. Nagal had to take it.KWON SENDS NAGAL AND INDIA CRASHING OUTInstead, Nagal endured a forgettable reverse singles against Soonwoo Kwon, losing 1-6, 2-6 to hand South Korea the tie.The Korean, ranked 157th in the world compared to Nagal's 247, was in control from the opening exchanges. He dictated play from the baseline and repeatedly forced Nagal onto the defensive.Nagal had shown plenty of resilience in his three-hour battle against Hyeon Chung on the opening day, but there was little sign of that intensity against Kwon. The Indian struggled to find his rhythm as the Korean raced through the first set 6-1.Nagal attempted to lift his level in the second, but Kwon continued to dictate the tempo. The Korean did not allow his opponent a sustained spell of pressure and closed out the match 6-2.The victory made South Korea the first Asian team to reach the Davis Cup knockout stage since the competition's format was revamped.For India, it was a bitter end to a campaign that had promised more after their earlier victory over the Netherlands. They will return to Qualifier Round 1 in 2027.The tie could also mark the end of Rohit Rajpal's tenure as India's captain, with his contract running until December 2026 and no extension announced yet.- EndsPublished By: sabyasachi chowdhuryPublished On: Sep 19, 2026 13:10 IST