Spain on the ropes: Denmark takes 2-0 lead against Spain in Davis Cup qualifiers

Denmark has taken the lead in the Davis Cup and leaves Spain on the brink of elimination in the second round of qualifiers. Both European teams are competing for a spot in the Finals 8, but Spain is without its two best players: world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and world No. 20 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Without the presence of their top two players, the Spanish team started the series against Denmark on the wrong foot. Holger Rune took to the court in the first match against Pablo Carreño Busta, living up to his favorite status by defeating him 7-5, 6-3, giving Denmark the advantage.

However, the surprise came in the second match when Elmer Moeller (No. 109) defeated Jaume Munar (No. 37) in three sets. Munar was a clear favorite against the young Dane. With this, the series begins 2-0 for Denmark after the first day, and they only need one more win in any of the three matches on Sunday to secure their passage to the Finals and eliminate a favorite like Spain.

On Sunday, Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar will face August Holmgren and Johannes Ingildsen in the doubles, a match that could secure Denmark's victory. If needed, the fourth match will feature Rune against Munar and potentially a fifth match between Moeller and Carreño Busta.

Rune leads the charge: wins tough battle against Carreño Busta

The person with the most responsibility for the day was Holger Rune—the current world No. 11—who faced the always complicated Carreño Busta (No. 123). Despite the Spaniard's ranking, it has been injuries that have caused the former top-10 and Tokyo 2021 bronze medalist to fall in the rankings, making him a formidable opponent for Rune, who had to fight in a tight first set after being a break down.

Carreño Busta was the first to get a break in the first set, but Rune quickly broke back. Things remained even, with both players winning over 67% of points on their first serve and giving their opponent virtually no break opportunities. The set went to 5-5 with no one gaining an advantage, at which point Rune got the decisive break that allowed him to close out the set on his serve 7-5 after 57 minutes.

In the second set, both players' first-serve percentages dropped (50% for the Spaniard and only 46% for the Dane). This time it was Rune who took the momentum at the start of the set, getting an early break—winning 12 of the first 15 points—and taking a 3-0 lead. Carreño Busta managed to get the break back—going on a three-game run to tie it at 3-3, but it wasn't enough to stage a comeback. Rune put his foot on the gas in the final part of the match, converted his only break point, and won his last two service games at love. The result was a 7-5, 6-3 win for the 22-year-old star, who put Denmark ahead in the series.

Match Statistics Carreno Busta vs. Rune

Moeller pulls off major upset, Defeats Munar in three sets

The second match also had a clear favorite: Jaume Munar (No. 37), who had the mission of filling the void left by Alcaraz and Davidovich's absences. The Spaniard, who is going through the best moment of his career, started by showing his favoritism, comfortably winning the first set 6-2 (after starting 0-2 down) and going on a six-game winning streak.

However, in the second set, Moeller (No. 113) reacted, responding with three consecutive breaks against a Munar who won only 25% of his service points throughout the set. The Dane showed that he can adapt well to the clay-court conditions where Munar seemed to be a clear favorite and maintained his momentum to take the second set 6-1.

In the decisive set, it was a battle of nerves, with breaks for both players, both of whom held a lead at different points. The score went to 4-4, and the tension remained, but Moeller capitalized on his break opportunity in the ninth game and served to close out the victory 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, in a crucial comeback for the Danish team's ambitions.

Match Statistics Munar vs. Moller