South Korea has taken a 2-0 lead in the Davis Cup tie against New Zealand in Newport, Rhode Island.
Rubin Statham in Davis Cup action against Korea. Photo: Ben Solomon
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 tie.
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 as South Korea won the first two singles matches.
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 8th 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 was too good for New Zealand number one Rubin Statham, winning 6-2 6-2 in 57 minutes.
Both players started well on serve but Statham made a couple of unforced errors in the 6th 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 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.
Finn Reynolds makes his debut for New Zealand in the second singles rubber on Saturday against Korean number one Kwon Soowoon who is ranked 83rd in the world.
Olympic Bronze medallists Michael Venus and Marcus Daniell will play the doubles rubber on Sunday morning NZT against Nam and 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 in Newport.