25-Year-Old ATP Star’s Frustrated Act Earns Rare Sympathy From WTA Colleague as ‘Military’ Reason Revealed Behind His Rage

Tennis courts often witness emotional outbursts from athletes when the stress turns out to be excessively overpowering. These incidents of frustration can be especially daunting while repeating one’s country on a worldwide stage. The South Korean tennis ace, Kwon Soon-woo recently wound up amidst such an episode during the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. His controversial act drew both cheers and boos from the crowd. An astounding turn unfurled as WTA player Daria Saville shared her thoughts on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Soon-woo, South Korea’s top-ranked level male tennis player, had high expectations entering the 2023 Asian Games. Yet, his journey took a startling start during the second round of the men’s singles event. He played up against Thailand’s Samrej Kasidit, who held a much lower ranking at World No. 636.

Daria Saville stands with Kwon Soon-woo amidst mandatory military service obligations

In a stunning turn of events, Kasidit figured out how to overcome Kwon Soon-woo in three sets, with a final score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. The match sent shockwaves through the stands and left Soon-woo wrestling with a range of feelings. At the final point, Soon-woo’s frustration broke into a full mental breakdown on the court.

Viewers watched in amazement as the usually composed athlete took out his resentment on his racket. He smashed it over and over against the ground and a nearby chair until it was diminished to pieces. The South Korean ace also decided not to greet both the chair umpire and his rival, Kasidit.

His behavior was closely questioned via social media, with many scrutinizing his sportsmanship on the court. It was during this fierce period that Daria Saville, a noticeable WTA player, ventured forward with her support. She shared on X, “No wonder the meltdown.” She had extended a thoughtful hand towards the overwhelmed tennis star. Saville further added, “The meltdown wasn’t even that bad after all.”

Soon-woo’s loss at the Asian Games meant that he would be heading for compulsory military service like numerous other young South Korean men aged 18 to 28. It’s a law in South Korea to serve for 1.5-2 years as an energetic obligation to reinforce the country’s protection.

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Several athletes often face sacrifices and pressures in their pursuit of excellence. Saville’s reaction to the South Korean’s explosiveness shows how important empathy is in tennis courts. After his meltdown and the report about his military service broke, Kwon Soon-woo was quick to apologize on Instagram. He shared that his behavior was careless for somebody representing their country.

South Korean tennis authorities recently addressed Soon Woo’s controversial attack

Soon Woo faced repercussions for his actions following a disappointing loss in Hangzhou, China. Despite his subsequent apology, he couldn’t avoid the consequences. His controversial act led to a statement from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC). They expressed regret and promised that appropriate measures would be followed.

Soon Woo attempted to mitigate the situation by issuing a handwritten apology on his social media account. In his apology, he acknowledged his reckless behavior and cited pressure as a contributing factor. The decision by the South Korean tennis governing body to address the situation reflects their commitment to upholding sportsmanship standards, even when it involves their favorite players.

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