By Mark Dake
Contributing Writer
There is currently a major changing of the guard underway in Korean men's tennis. The country's best all-time performer, with career wins over champions Marat Safin and Andy Murray, who single-handedly lead Korea to the elite top 16 in Davis Cup in 2008, a player respected by fellow tour pros for his supreme conditioning and intense fighting spirit, will hang up his racquet in the fall after 15 years on the pro tour.
But Lee Hyung-taik, 33, will be in the spotlight one more time, Friday through Sunday, in a Group 1 Asia/Oceania 2nd round playoff Davis Cup home tie against China in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, playing No. 1 singles.
On paper, Lee and the supporting cast should have little difficulty with China _ its top male player is Gong Mao-xin, ranked a lowly 534th.
But tennis matches are not played on paper. And the problem for Korea's Davis Cup team has been that is has not had a world-class, No. 2 singles player to support Lee, who cemented the No. 1 position in 1995. In an interview last week, Korea Davis Cup captain Kim Nam-hoon, when asked if there was a possibility Korea could lose to China, paused, laughed softly, then replied, ``I don't see that happening."
In 2008, Lee led Korea out of Asia/Oceania qualifying, through World Group playoffs, into the World Group, where he won three of four singles matches against The Netherlands and Germany, only to see his teammates _ totally outclassed at No. 2 singles _ fail miserably. Lee accounted for Korea's only two points in its 3-2 loss to the Netherlands in September 2008.
But Korea may have a player who could assume Lee's mantle: Lim Yong-kyu, a strong 1.83-meter, 78-kilogram, fast, hard-hitting 18-year-old _ one of many young Koreans fighting it out in tennis's minor leagues _ may be inserted at No. 2 singles against China.
Lim has an impressive 2009 record: 22-4 in ATP Challenger Tour events in China, Korea, Malaysia and India. Although ranked just 467, the number is deceiving: All young pros must endure the long process of working their way up the ranking ladder. (He stood No. 742 in early 2009).
Captain Kim said the choice for No. 2 is between rookie Lim, and veteran Im Kyu-tae, 28, ranked No. 214. ``I won't decide who will play No. 2 until Thursday," said Kim. ``Im has been playing very well lately." The captain also recognizes youngster Lim's potential. ``He could make the world's top 100. He has no weaknesses."
Lee Hyung-taik should, as usual, be the lynchpin of the tie, his 30th in 14 years playing Davis Cup. He has an overall Davis Cup record of 50-22, and 40-9 in singles. But he has slowed down in 2009, falling from a career-high ranking of 36 in 2007, to a current 153. He last played on the tour on March 16, in Bangkok, and rumor has it he suffered an injury. More impressive is Lee's 20-4 Davis Cup singles record on hard courts _ despite slow, red clay being Korea's dominant surface _ the reason the tie this weekend will be on Plexicushion hard courts.
Lee has made almost $3 million in career prize money because of his world class ground strokes. He hits consistently aggressive topspin forehands and backhands from every spot on the court. Early in his career, he boomed shots without crafty placement. But when he finally learned this art, aiming close to the lines on crosscourt rallies, relentlessly pushing his opponent side-to-side and wearing him down, he could compete with the best. The only reason Lee didn't reach the top 10, was because he didn't develop his serve into a weapon.
Hopefully, Lim will be inserted at No. 2 against China. Asked if 28-year-old Im was not too old, the age most pros retire, Mr. Kim responded: "Asian players develop later than western players. Asian bodies are not as big, and they can play more years."
But it's the rookie Lim who could become the rock Korea rebuilds around for the next decade. If not, the years ahead for Korean men's tennis could be long and desolate.
*Date: Friday, July 10: Nos. 1 and 2 singles, 1 p.m.; Saturday, July 11, doubles, noon; Sunday, July 12, Nos. 1 and 2 singles, 11 a.m.
*Stadium: 2,800 seats. Free seating.
*Directions: Take highway 46 east from Seoul. Approaching Chuncheon, turn left on Road 403 _ continue on for 700 meters. Turn right across Uiam Dam _ go 1 km. The Sports Complex (Tennis Center) is on the left, on the east bank of Uiam Lake
*Tie results: www.daviscup.com. Click on 'Ties, Asia/Oceania Zone,' then 'Korea-China.'
*Information phone number in English: Yoon Jeong-deok: 010-3754-4285
*Television: KBS-TV N-Sports
*In case of rain, the tie will be played indoors in Chuncheon.