ATP Tour
Martinez saves MP vs. Rune to set off beautiful Davis Cup win for Spain
Collignon stars as Belgium shocks Australia
September 14, 2025
Angel Martinez/Getty Photographs for ITF
Pablo Carreno Busta is embraced by Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar after Spain’s comeback victory towards Denmark.
By ATP Workers
Pedro Martinez introduced Spain again from the brink of elimination within the Davis Cup Qualifiers second spherical on Sunday, when the World No. 67 upset Holger Rune in dramatic vogue to assist his nation e book a spot on the Last 8.
With Spain trailing 1-2 within the Marbella tie, Martinez saved a match level with Rune serving at 5-3, 40/30 within the deciding set. He went on to crucially full a break of serve in that recreation earlier than sealing a 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(3) triumph.
That set the stage for former World No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta, who duly overcame Elmer Moeller 6-2, 6-3 to make sure the six-time champion Spain will compete within the Last 8 in November in Bologna. Earlier within the day, Martinez and Jaume Munar had reenergised Spanish hopes with an important 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 doubles win towards August Holmgren and Johannes Ingildsen.
Together with his singles victory towards Rune, Martinez improved to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence with Rune. The 28-year-old Spaniard additionally downed the Dane in straight units in Rotterdam in February.
“The sensation [at Davis Cup] is completely completely different,” mentioned Martinez after his win. “Perhaps I get extra nervous however, this adrenaline, it does not work on some gamers. On me it provides me an additional motivation to play full. I really feel the nerves, however I can deal with them, and I feel this motivation performs in my favour.
“Hopefully I can proceed taking part in like this in Davis Cup. For me it is one of the vital essential issues in my profession.”
Collingnon The Hero Once more For Belgium Raphael Collignon capped a dream weekend on the Davis Cup qualifiers for each himself and Belgium with a decisive comeback victory towards Aleksandar Vukic on Sunday in Sydney.
Having battled cramps on Saturday throughout a three-set upset of World No. 8 Alex de Minaur, Collignon outlasted Vukic 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3 to earn Belgium a surprising 3-2 win at Ken Rosewall Enviornment. The No. 91 within the PIF ATP Rankings broke Vukic’s serve twice in every of the second and third units to finish a memorable triumph for the European nation.
Almighty Raphael 👑
Collignon completes the comeback towards Vukic 6-7(5) 6-2 6-3, sealing Belgium’s place in Bologna’s closing 8! 🇧🇪@DavisCup | #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/6nXyBvEUQF
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 14, 2025
Regardless of heading into Sunday’s motion trailing 0-2, Australia threatened to tug off a memorable comeback after drawing stage at 2-2. Rinky Hijikata and Jordan Thompson prevailed 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-4 within the doubles rubber towards Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen, earlier than De Minaur downed Zizou Bergs 6-2, 7-5. But the 23-year-old Collignon had different concepts.
“Yesterday was very demanding bodily,” mentioned Collignon after his win over Vukic, as reported by the Davis Cup web site. “I used to be attempting to recuperate in addition to I may for immediately. It was a protracted day to attend however I attempted to recuperate as I may to be prepared for this match and I’m very comfortable how I performed.
“Bodily I used to be feeling okay. With adrenaline and the power from the bench it was loopy, I didn’t really feel the legs in any respect. It was a loopy environment and a loopy match.”
A Davis Cup finalist in 2015 and 2017, Belgium is into the final eight within the Davis Cup for the primary time since 2018. The 2025 Davis Cup Last 8 will likely be held in Bologna from 18-23 November. Alongside Belgium, the opposite certified international locations thus far are host Italy, Argentina, Austria, Czechia, France and Germany.
