Spain vs South Korea Preview & Prediction | 2023 Davis Cup Finals | Group Stage
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THE FACTS
When is Spain vs South Korea on and what time does it start? Spain vs South Korea will take place on Sunday 17th September, 2023 – not before 12:00 (UK)
Where is Spain vs South Korea taking place? Spain vs South Korea will take place at Pabellon Fuente de San Luis in Valencia, Spain
What surface is Spain vs South Korea being played on? Spain vs South Korea will take place on an indoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Spain vs South Korea? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Spain vs South Korea
Where can I watch Spain vs South Korea? All matches can be watched on Tennis Channel International’s Pay TV, while all Great Britain matches will be televised and streamed on BBC platforms
THE PREDICTION
Hosts Spain have been humiliated in Valencia this week, whitewashed in both ties so far to miss out on the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga later this year. Without world number two Carlos Alcaraz, a still recovering Rafael Nadal and an apparently injured Roberto Bautista Agut (who is present with the team) the pressure of pulling Spain over the line has sat squarely on world number 25 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s shoulders in what could be a very damaging week for the rest of his season. The 24-year-old should have fared better in a straight-sets defeat to Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday but a second loss in two to Novak Djokovic on Friday was fair enough, with both defeats ending the respective ties against Czechia and Serbia after clay-courters Bernabe Zapata Miralles and Albert Ramos-Vinolas struggled to impose themselves in the opening matches. Davidovich Fokina also played doubles alongside Marcel Granollers in both ties, losing tightly in both, but he will likely stick to the one singles match here with only pride to play for.
South Korea looked dead and buried before they even arrived in Valencia and so it has come to pass, with first option Soonwoo Kwon not yet recovered from injury in time to find his best tennis here. Jisung Nam and Minkyu Song have impressed in two tight doubles defeats this week but they too are out of the running in Group C with a 0-6 record. Soonwoo Kwon and second option Seongchan Hong have take a set each in their two defeats to suggest they can cause an upset here but this dead rubber is likely to feel very damp indeed on Saturday.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was unfortunate not to face Serbia in the first match of the round, with Serbia missing world number one Novak Djokovic, but Spain have been left seriously hampered by injuries this week and bereft of joy. ADF should have enough to beat Soonwoo Kwon in the first option bout but it would not be a huge surprise to see him falter after such a difficult week holding up the hopes of a nation and Seongchan Hong has looked strong enough to cause an upset against either of Spain’s out of form openers. It is probably best to leave this tie alone altogether with nothing to play for but otherwise take Spain to edge limp through, probably 2-1.
