Tennis ace to step away from tour for ‘almost two years’ due to compulsory military service

Tennis player, who scripted history by winning multiple ATP titles, will serve in the military from January next year.

Tennis ace to step away from tour for ‘almost two years’ due to compulsory military service

Kwon Soon-woo (Image via X)

South Korean tennis player Kwon Soon-woo has announced on Instagram that he will start his mandatory military service in January next month. Because of this, he will be out of the tour for almost two years.

Military service in South Korea is mandatory for all men between the ages of 18 and 35. The law has been in force since 1957 because of the country’s conflict with neighbor North Korea.

YouTube video

I will enlist in the army on January 13, 2025. My life as a tourist will stop for almost two years, but I will come back in a more complete form than you can imagine. I know many people say that it is too late to start playing again after 30… I think 30 is the prime of life and I am confident.

Kwon Soon-woo wrote on Instagram

Though all physically healthy males are required to serve in the military, there have been few exceptions. South Korean footballer Son Heung-min, who captains the English Premier League (EPL) club Tottenham Hotspur, was part of the military for just three weeks because of him guiding the national team to win at the 2018 Asian Games.

Kwon on the other hand could have been required to complete just the basic training for three to four weeks just like Son had he won gold at the Asian Games.

I have only achieved 20 percent of the goals I set for myself, and the other 80 percent will be the Korean tennis you dream of. I will make Korean tennis what all tennis fans want it to be, and I will do it until I achieve it.

Kwon Soon-woo added

Check out his post here:

Here’s all about Kwon Soon-woo’s tennis career

Kwon Soon-woo is 27 years old and he will be 28 when he returns to the tour. He turned pro in 2015 and won his first ATP title at the 2021 Astana Open. Kwon then became the first South Korean to win multiple ATP singles titles when he won the 2023 Adelaide International 2.

Kwon Soon-woo
Kwon Soon-woo (Image via X)

Apart from the ATP titles, Kwon has also lifted three Challengers and five ITF World Tennis Tour singles titles. In 2021, he achieved his highest rankings when he became World No. 52.

The World No.350 has reached the second round of all four Grand Slam events in singles but gave his best at the 2021 French Open when he reached the third round. The Sangju-born has also played the first round of all four Major events in doubles.