Holger Rune didn’t hold back his frustration with Team Spain after they knocked Denmark out of the 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers. Following the intense loss, Rune explained exactly why he refused to shake the hand of chair umpire Roberto Ranieri, adding another layer of controversy to the defeat. While Spain celebrated its victory, which secured a spot in the Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna, Rune was left questioning the conduct on the court.
Why Did Holger Rune Accuse Team Spain of Unsportsmanlike Conduct?
Earlier this year, Team Denmark earned its spot against Spain by defeating Serbia 3-2 in the first round of the 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers. The second-round showdown took place at the Club de Tenis Puente Romano in Marbella, where the Spanish team hosted the Danes.
The tie started promisingly for Denmark. Rune gave his team a 1-0 lead by defeating Pablo Carreño Busta 7-5, 6-3 in a singles match. His teammate, Elmer Møller, then extended that lead to 2-0 with a hard-fought 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Jaume Munar.
“That is a nasty little backhand” 😳🔥
Rune craftily edges ahead in this decider.#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/Z57HyUgUD9
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 14, 2025
However, the momentum shifted during the doubles match. The Spanish duo of Pedro Martínez and Munar mounted a comeback, defeating August Holmgren and Johannes Ingildsen 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. The following two singles matches sealed Denmark’s fate, as Rune lost a nail-biter to Martínez 1-6, 6-4, 6-7(3), and Møller fell to Carreño Busta 2-6, 3-6. This turnaround allowed Spain to clinch the tie 3-2.
Rune is back in this match 💪#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/mIwRngeDRo
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 14, 2025
In the post-match press conference, Rune criticized Team Spain for what he called “unsportsmanlike” behavior. He attributed their conduct to a difference in “upbringing,” “manners,” and “education” between the Danish and Spanish players.
“I think there are clear differences in upbringing, manners and education between the Danes and the Spaniards. They behaved unsportsmanlike, but I’ve experienced worse,” Rune said.
The former World No. 4 also addressed his decision to refuse a handshake with the chair umpire, Ranieri. Rune stated that the umpire did not deserve the gesture because of poor officiating, numerous mistakes, and what he described as “strange decisions.”
“He didn’t deserve to be greeted. He did his job poorly, made a lot of mistakes and made strange decisions,” he added.
Holger Rune refusing to shake the umpire’s hand… pic.twitter.com/N13C5udhYo
— Corvath Draemir (@Archaicmind3000) September 14, 2025
This loss came after Rune’s run at the 2025 US Open, where he was eliminated in the second round of the singles event by Jan-Lennard Struff. He also competed in mixed doubles with Amanda Anisimova, where the fourth-seeded pair lost in the first round to Ben Shelton and Taylor Townsend.
What Is Next on Rune’s Schedule?
With the Davis Cup qualifiers behind him, Rune will turn his attention to the ATP Tour’s Asian swing. His next stop is the 2025 Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo.
The ATP 500 hard-court tournament is scheduled from September 24 to September 30 at the Ariake Coliseum. It is expected to feature a stacked field, including top players like Carlos Alcaraz, Kei Nishikori, Taylor Fritz, Jiří Lehečka, Ben Shelton, and Casper Ruud.
During the 2024 Japan Open, Rune, seeded sixth, started his campaign with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win over Alejandro Tabilo. In the second round, he defeated wild card Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2, 6-4.
In the quarterfinals, the former World No. 4 battled past another wild card, Nishikori, with a 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory. His tournament run ended in the semifinals, where he was defeated by the eventual champion, Arthur Fils, in a tight match with a score of 6-7(8), 6-7(10).