Davis Cup: Sumit Nagal loses in straight sets as India go down to South Korea

India have been knocked out of the Davis Cup 2026. South Korea beat India 1-3 at the Olympic Tennis Court in Seoul. In the fourth singles rubber played on the same court on September 19, Sumit Nagal faced South Korean player Sunwoo Kwon.

Kwon won the first set 6-1 in one-sided fashion. Nagal tried to fight back in the second set, but lost that too, 6-2. With this defeat, India's Davis Cup campaign came to an end. The Indian team had been trying to reach the Davis Cup top 8 for the first time since 1996.

India had fielded Sumit Nagal for the fourth rubber of the second round. He had also lost his singles match on September 18, though he had played well in that match. In this match, Sunwoo Kwon dominated the first set completely, taking a 5-1 lead in just six games, after which Nagal got no chance to come back in the set and lost it 6-1 after losing the sixth game.

After losing the first set, everyone had hoped Nagal would fight back in the second set, but Sunwoo Kwon gave him no opening. The score was level at 2-2 after four games at one point, after which Sunwoo Kwon won four games in a row to take the second set 6-2, beating Sumit in straight sets. With this win, South Korea advanced to the Davis Cup last 8, while India's Davis Cup campaign ended here.

India trailed 0-2 after the first day's singles matches and needed to win both matches on the second day. In the men's doubles, the pair of Dakshineswar Suresh and Sriram Balaji beat Ji Sung Nam and Ui Sung Park 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. India had made a change to the team for this match, bringing in Dakshineswar Suresh in place of Niki Poonacha.