Kwon Soon-woo Salutes the Crowd: Korea Splits Day 1 Against Argentina in Davis Cup

The roar of the crowd at Busan's Gijang Indoor Arena was deafening as Kwon Soon-woo clinched the final point, responding with his signature military salute celebration — a moment destined to become a highlight of this Davis Cup tie.

A Hot Night in Busan

On February 7, 2026, the Gijang Indoor Arena in Busan played host to the Davis Cup Final Qualifying Round 1 between Korea and Argentina. With a 92% ticket sell-out rate, the atmosphere reflected the immense anticipation among Korean tennis fans for this showdown.

Chung Hyeon's Heartbreaking Reversal

In the opening singles rubber, Chung Hyeon dominated Argentina's top player Thiago Agustin Tirante in the first set, winning 6-2 with commanding baseline play. However, Tirante mounted a fierce comeback from the second set onwards, ultimately prevailing 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(7-5) in a devastating reversal.

The third-set tiebreak collapse at 5-7 was particularly painful for Korean fans. Given Chung's experience and caliber, this was a match well within his grasp, making the defeat all the more frustrating.

Enter the Closer: Kwon Soon-woo

At a moment when team morale could have crumbled, Kwon Soon-woo stepped up in the second singles rubber to completely reverse the energy. He dispatched Argentina's Marco Trungelliti (world No. 134) with a clinical 7-6(6), 6-2 victory.

After edging the first-set tiebreak by just two points, Kwon dominated the second set 6-2, overwhelming his opponent with aggressive returns and pinpoint serving. His recent Challenger title — his first in five years — clearly carried positive momentum into this Davis Cup encounter.

"I hope everyone comes back tomorrow and cheers loudly for us again. I would be so grateful." — Kwon Soon-woo, post-match interview

Day 1 Results

Match	Korea	Argentina	Score
Singles 1	Chung Hyeon	Tirante	1-2 (6-2, 5-7, 6-7)
Singles 2	Kwon Soon-woo	Trungelliti	2-0 (7-6, 6-2)

The Battle Ahead

With the tie level at 1-1 after Day 1, Korea's doubles pair of Nam Ji-sung and Park Ui-sung will face Guido Andreozzi and Federico Agustin Gomez on Day 2. A doubles victory would put Korea in a commanding position heading into the reverse singles.

The remaining singles matches will feature a crossover from Day 1 — meaning Kwon will face Tirante while Chung takes on Trungelliti. Chung's opportunity for redemption adds another layer of drama to what promises to be a thrilling conclusion.

The Davis Cup drama continues in Busan's Gijang Arena, where Korean tennis is writing a new chapter. Follow the passion of Korean tennis on BACELINE.