Holger Rune hypes Team Denmark ahead of Spain Davis Cup tie

Holger Rune previewed what promises to be a high-octane Davis Cup clash between Denmark and Spain in a Qualifiers Second Round tie this weekend at the Club de Tenis Puente Romano in Marbella, Spain.

“The crowd may be against us but I have played in crazy atmospheres before and I have the hairs on the chest needed to play against Spain," Rune said of the away tie vs. a Spanish team comprised of Jaume Munar, Pedro Martinez, Roberto Carballes Baena, and Pablo Carreño Busta. "I am looking forward to the tie—it will be a great battle.”

Denmark is looking to make their first Davis Cup Finals, having not reached the quarterfinals of World Group play since 1988.

"It is an amazing and special feeling playing for your country,” said Rune. “It is really exciting, and it would mean the world for us to reach the Final 8. We were so far back a few years ago, but now we are only one step away from the Finals.”

Rune led Denmark to a 3-2 upset over Serbia back in February, partnering Johannes Ingildsen to earn a must-win doubles victory over Miomir Kecmanovic and Hamad Medjedovic before Rune and Elmer Møller nabbed singles wins over Kecmanovic and Medjedovic, respectively.

“We need to lock in, be focused in the moment and fight for every point. We need to produce the level that we can and go for it.”

Rune is coming off a disappointing end to his Grand Slam season, losing in the second round of the US Open to Jan-Lennard Struff. The 22-year-old began the year with back-to-back second-week finishes at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and made his fourth career Masters 1000 final at the BNP Paribas Open.

Captained by former Wimbledon doubles champion Frederik Nielsen, Team Denmark will also lean on rising Danish star Elmer Møller, who made his Grand Slam main draw debut earlier this year at Roland Garros. Moeller won his third career ATP Challenger title in July at the Iasi Open in Romania, and is poised to make his Top 100 debut this fall—having peaked at No. 102 in the summer.

“When I took over the captaincy, I had big ambitions but knew it was a long-term project,” said Neilsen. “We were actually planning on peaking in three or four years from now, so the fact we are here already is something we're excited about and want to take advantage of.”

The DEN-ESP tie will kick off on Saturday with Rune facing Pablo Carreño Busta in the first match of the weekend.