India, South Korea set for Davis Cup 2026 qualifier clash in Seoul
New Delhi, August 8
The India vs South Korea tennis tie in the second round of the 2026 Davis Cup qualifiers, scheduled for September 18-19, will be played on the hard courts of the Olympic Tennis Centre in Seoul.
The winner of the tie in Seoul will qualify for the Final 8 stage of the Davis Cup, which will be held in Bologna, Italy, in November, as per Olympics.com.
South Korea, ranked 16th in the Davis Cup standings, hold a slender 6-5 head-to-head advantage over India, who are currently ranked 19th.
India are set to name their team for the tie on Monday. The two sides last met in 2016, when India recorded a 4-1 victory over South Korea in Chandigarh in an Asia/Oceania Group I tie played on grass.
India booked their place in the second round with a 3-2 win over the Netherlands in Bengaluru in February. At the time, India were ranked 33rd in the world, while the Dutch were No. 6.
Dhakshineswar Suresh was the standout performer for India, winning both his singles rubbers and partnering Yuki Bhambri to victory in the doubles.
With the win, India reached the second round of the qualifiers for the first time since the current format, which was introduced in 2019.
South Korea also secured their place in the second round after upsetting 2016 champions Argentina 3-2 in Busan.
South Korea reached the 16-team Davis Cup Finals in 2022 and 2023, while India will bid to reach the Final 8 for the first time under the current format.
India have finished as Davis Cup runners-up three times, in 1966, 1974 and 1987.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a tennis fan, this is exciting! But honestly, I wish we had more exposure to grass or clay courts back home. Hard courts might give the Koreans an advantage since they're used to these conditions. Still, given our 4-1 win over them in 2016, I'm optimistic! Let's go India!
South Korea reaching the Finals in 2022 and 2023 shows they're consistent at this level. We need to be at our absolute best. Hopefully, Yuki Bhambri and Dhakshineswar can replicate their magic from the Netherlands tie. It's been too long since we've been in the final stages of the Davis Cup. Best of luck to the boys!
Seoul is a tough away venue, but we've upset higher-ranked teams before. The win over the Dutch when they were ranked #6 gives me confidence. Playing in September gives the team time to prepare well. Let's hope the selectors don't mess this up with questionable picks 🤞
Interesting matchup. South Korea has been quietly improving their tennis infrastructure, and their recent win over Argentina shows they're no pushovers. India's lower ranking might actually help them—they'll play without pressure. This could go either way, but it's great for both countries to get such high-stakes tennis.
It's amazing to see Indian tennis in the news for good reasons! The last time we finished as runners-up was in '87. If we get past Korea, we're in with a real shot at the title. I hope more people watch and support, tennis needs
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