Holger Rune proved to be deciding factor as Denmark beats India 3-2 in the Davis Cup World Group 1 Playoff tie.

Denmark proved to be too good for the Men in Blue as team India relegated to World Group II for the first time after suffering a 3-2 loss against the Holger Rune-led Danish team in its Davis Cup World Group 1 Playoff Tie.

In the first singles, Yuki Bhambri had no clue against the world no 9 Holger Rune as the Danish star overpowered Bhambri in straight sets. Then in the 2nd singles of day 1, it was the brave Sumit Nagal who erased a one-set deficit to outsmart August Holmgren 4-6 6-3 6-4 in two hours and 27 minutes to make it 1-1 with the host after Bhambri lost the opening singles.

Heading into the second day, The tie levelled 1-1, With Bopanna pairing up with Bhambri – the fifth different Indian pair in five ties. Denmark came up with a changed lineup that saw Rune being added to the rubber with partner Johannes Ingildsen, which was a scratch pair put up by the hosts, but they stormed to a straight-sets win to make the tie 2-1 to Denmark.

The tall order of leading India’s comeback in the tie again fell to Sumit Nagal, who gave his best against the Holger Rune in the reverse singles but could not capitalise on multiple breakpoint opportunities to lose the match 7-5 6-3.

Nagal continued to trouble Rune from the baseline in the second set and was up 40-15 in the first game then he gave away two breakpoints to lose from a commanding position. Once Nagal was broken in the sixth game, Rune ran away with the match and sealed the tie for Denmark who took an unassailable 3-1 lead.

In the dead rubber, southpaw Prajnesh Gunneswaran faced Denmark’s Elmer Moller. Gunneswaran won the first set despite being broken thrice and clinched the second set in the tiebreaker to win the match 6-4 7-6(1) in one hour and 39 minutes