As the biggest international team tournament in the tennis world, the Davis Cup attracts many players from all over the globe. Tennis legends like Rod Laver, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Stan Wawrinka have helped lead their respective national teams to victories in this international event. But a recent effort to reform the games, led by football player Gerard Pique, is getting a divisive response from both the general public and the players themselves.
Roger Federer slams changes to Davis Cup
Twenty-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer is one of those players who oppose the reforms. The Swiss tennis icon said that Pique’s involvement in the changes could be considered meddling with the current tennis calendar, which can affect the participation of many players.
While he is open to seeing innovations in the tournaments, Federer said that he finds it odd that a football player has a huge influence on how the tennis business is being run. He even warned that the Davis Cup should not turn into the Pique Cup.
Last year, the proposal to turn the Davis Cup into a week-long tournament with 18 teams was submitted to the ITF. The proposal also seeks to make the Davis Cup as the world cup for tennis that will be done at the end of each season. This is to attract more potential sponsors and higher viewership.
Pique, through his investment firm Kosmos, and Japanese entrepreneur Hiroshi Mikitani, lobbied hard for the plan. When the proposal was submitted for a vote in an ITF summit, 71 percent of the body’s member federations approved it.
It was, however, Barcelona player’s pronouncements during an interview with Le Figaro that the Davis Cup may be moved to September that raised many eyebrows. Federer, for his part, may not like the move because it could create a scheduling conflict with his own Laver Cup.
Roger commented:
“I have not spoken to Gerard Pique yet, but I admit that it’s a bit odd to see a footballer arrive and meddle in the tennis business. The Davis Cup should not become the Pique Cup. I am globally for innovations: our sport needs to think a little outside the box to innovate. But it’s a bit like in a part of Jenga, you have to be careful not to remove the room that will bring down the whole building.”
Gerard Pique’s ambitions
Pique, meanwhile, said that he is committed to proving his critics wrong. He also commented on Federer and other players’ comments regarding the tournament becoming the Pique Cup. He acknowledged that it is his challenge to make sure that they understand the logic behind the changes.
It also seems that Pique has more changes in mind. He suggested that there is a possibility that the Davis Cup and its female counterpart, the Fed Cup, could be held as one event soon. The men’s team event may also be transferred to California as soon as 2021.
Roger Federer’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.3, the Swiss played his last match on the 3rd of September when he lost to Grigor Dimitrov 3-6 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-2 in the quarter in U.S. Open.
This year Federer has a 43-7 win-loss record. Federer conquered 3 titles in 2019 in Dubai, in Miami and in Halle. Federer was the finalist in Indian Wells and in Wimbledon.
Roger Federer |
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