Reynolds puts up fight but Korea in ascendency

21-year-old rookie New Zealand player Finn Reynolds served for the first set against world number 83 Kwon Soonwoo but ultimately came up short on day one of the World Group 1 Davis Cup tie in Newport, Rhode Island.

The Republic of Korea lead 2-0 after winning both singles rubbers on the pristine grass courts at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Left hander Reynolds made his Davis Cup debut for New Zealand against Korean number one Kwon, succumbing 7-6 (1) 6-3 after Rubin Statham had lost the opening rubber 6-2 6-2 against Korean number two Nam Jisung.

Showing no sign of nerves on debut, Hawke’s Bay prodigy Reynolds had break points in Kwon’s opening service game and served strongly. Reynolds broke serve in the 8^th game and served for the set at 5-3. But a double fault and a couple of unforced errors had him 0-40 and Kwon broke straight back. The set went to a tie break which the Korean dominated.

The experienced ATP Tour pro who reached the second round at Wimbledon and third round at the French Open this year, broke serve in the second game and raced to a 3-0 lead.

Reynolds fought hard though and broke back for 3-2 before Kwon broke again and went on to close out the match.

Earlier Korean number two Nam Jisung gave his side the perfect start with a comprehensive win over Rubin Statham.

The 34-year-old hasn’t played much in the past 18 months and his lack of match play showed in a 6-2 6-2 defeat in less than an hour on court.

Both players started well on serve but Statham made a couple of unforced errors in the 6^th game and Nam broke for a 4-2 lead. Statham had an immediate break back point in Nam’s next service game but couldn’t convert and the Kiwi dropped serve again as Nam took the opening set in 27 minutes.

Nam who has an ATP ranking of 341 held serve at the start of the second set and then broken Statham to take control of the match. Statham did get another break point chance with Nam serving at 4-2 but he couldn’t take it and Nam then broke to secure a convincing victory.

New Zealand will attempt to keep the tie alive tomorrow with Olympic bronze medalists Michael Venus and Marcus Daniell playing the doubles rubber against Nam and Song Minkyu Song which will be followed by the reverse singles with Statham up against Kwon and Reynolds against Nam.

The tie is being played on grass at the international tennis Hall of Fame and the matches are being shown live on Sky Sport 2.