National team moves on in Davis Cup play

The Korea men’s tennis team has passed the first round of Asia-Oceania zone Group 1 qualifiers in the 2015 Davis Cup, thanks to 18-year-old Chung Hyeon.

At the National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on Sunday, Chung, who is ranked 121 in the world, beat Thailand veteran Danai Udomchoke 3-0 (6-4, 6-1, 6-1) to help Korea advance to the next round.

In the first round, which consists of four singles matches and one doubles match, Korea was leading 2-1 before Chung entered its singles match against 34-year-old Udomchoke.

On Friday, Lim Yong-kyu defeated Udomchoke, 3-0 (6-2, 6-1, 7-6), while Chung beat Warit Sornbutnark, also 3-0 (6-0, 7-5, 6-3).

Team Korea stumbled Saturday in doubles, as Nam Ji-sung and Song Min-kyu lost to Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana, 2-3 (6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-4).

Korea, led by coach Roh Gap-taik, will now face Uzbekistan in the second round in July.

Korea, ranked 28th in the world, has collected only one win against No. 22 Uzbekistan in their past five meetings.

The team that wins in the second round will advance to playoffs for a berth in the World Group. Korea advanced to the World Group in 1981, 1987 and 2008.

BY JOO KYUNG-DON [joo.kyungdon@joongang.co.kr]