Kwon Soon-woo crashes out of first round of U.S. Open with 3-1 loss

Kwon Soon-woo returns a shot to Christopher Eubanks during the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday in New York. [AP/YONHAP]

Kwon Soon-woo crashed out of the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday, losing 3-1 to 28th-seed Christopher Eubanks.

The first round U.S. Open clash was the first time Kwon has played a competitive match since he picked up a shoulder injury in February.

Two Koreans to compete at U.S. Open this week

Kwon struggled against the 27-year-old American, losing the opening set 6-3 and the second set 6-4. He bounced back and briefly dominated to take the third set 6-0, but failed to ride that momentum through the deciding fourth set, losing it 6-4, to drop the match three sets to one.

It was the second time that Kwon has lost to Eubanks after a 3-2 loss at the Australian Open in January this year.

Monday’s loss marked the third time Kwon has failed to advance to the second round of the U.S. Open. He reached the second round twice in 2020 and 2022 and has never managed to reach the third round of the tournament, despite qualifying for the major five years in a row.

Kwon’s best result at any major is reaching the third round of the French Open in 2021.

The U.S Open is the last major of the year after the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. Kwon missed the French Open and Wimbledon due to injury.

The 25-year-old rose to prominence after becoming the first Korean player to win two titles at ATP Tour events — first at the Astana Open in September 2021 and at the Adelaide International 2 in January this year.

With a loss, Kwon will now prepare for the Davis Cup finals groups stage, running from Sept. 12 through 17 in Spain.

The Davis Cup is an international tournament. Korea is set to face Serbia, Czech Republic and Spain in Group C of the competition.

Kwon will also represent Korea this year at the Hangzhou Asian Games, set to start on Sept. 23 in China.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]