(VIDEO) Holger Rune refuses umpire handshake after Davis Cup collapse

Holger Rune refused to shake hands with the umpire after a tough defeat against Pedro Martínez in the fourth match of the Denmark vs. Spain series. The Danish world No. 11 was the favorite against the 28-year-old Spaniard, currently ranked No. 67, with the chance to win the series for his country and qualify for the Finals 8. However, he collapsed in a three-set battle.

In a match that took three hours and 16 minutes, Rune squandered his chance to serve for the win—and a match point—before succumbing in the tie-break. Martínez secured a crucial victory 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(3) and tied the series for Spain. This point would be key for Pablo Carreño Busta (No. 123) to later seal a remarkable comeback for the Spaniards, defeating Elmer Moller (No. 113) in the decisive match 6-2, 6-3.

Denmark's early advantage on the first day, with victories from Rune against Carreño and Moller against Spain's No. 1 for this tie, Jaume Munar, was not enough. After including Munar and Pedro Martínez in the doubles (a three-set victory over Holmgren/Ingildsen), captain David Ferrer made a surprising decision to bench his highest-ranked player for the singles match and went with Martínez, who ended up getting a key victory against Rune.

The match started in the best way for Martínez, who used his home-court advantage and vast experience on clay to take the first set with a convincing 6-1 in just 35 minutes, securing five games in a row. At the start of the second set, the 28-year-old Spaniard was the first to get a break and went up 4-2. However, Rune woke up, got the break back, and improved his first-serve percentage from a poor 45% in the first set to 73% in the second. The Dane regained control of the game, winning four consecutive games to take the set 6-4.

In the third set, the tension was at its maximum. Rune started by saving a break point against him, and both players held on to their serve. Until 3-3, neither could gain an advantage, until Rune got the decisive break in the eighth game. He took a 5-3 lead and was serving for the match. However, he didn't capitalize, squandering a match point and watching as Martínez began an epic comeback. The Spaniard managed to force a tie-break, where he seized the momentum from the start and always stayed ahead, closing out a vital 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(3) win for the Spaniards. It was absolute joy for Martínez and dejection for Rune, who showed all his frustration and refused to shake the umpire's hand after the match.

Denmark is eliminated and loses its chance to play in the Finals. They will have to play the qualifiers again next year. The Spaniards, for their part, overcame the absences of Carlos Alcaraz and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and pulled off a remarkable comeback.

Rune is currently going through a complicated period in recent months, with no major results and losing ground in the rankings. The Dane fell in the first round of Wimbledon and the second round of the US Open, falling far short of his goals in Grand Slam tournaments, which cost him his spot in the top 10 a few weeks ago.

Rune is out of the Davis Cup and will return to the courts next week at the Laver Cup, where he will join Carlos Alcaraz on Team Europe. This will be the Dane's first appearance in the team tournament.