The new Davis Cup reform has also met with displeasure from Roger Federer and the Swiss is once again making up ground. The world number two is tackling the Barcelona star and reform advocate Gerard Piqué sharply.
The latest development in the theme of the new Davis Cup format is that the event is to take place in September and not as planned in November. The football star of FC Barcelona Gerard Piqué, who strongly supported the implementation of the new reform, is particularly committed to this.
Piqué said after another meeting of those responsible that the Davis Cup should be the kind of competition players want it to be. During a meeting in Wimbledon, they said that it should not take place in November. Just Germany’s number one, Alexander Zverev, said that he would rather lie on the beach in November than play for Germany at the Davis Cup.
The fact that a footballer interferes in tennis matters with piqué is now also displeasing Roger Federer. After his first round victory at the US Open in New York, the Swiss player said: “It’s funny for us tennis players to have a footballer in our world.
The world ranking rankings had clearly positioned itself against a reform of the Davis Cup and once again added against Piqué: “Therefore he must (Piqué, editor’s note) be careful what he says”. This is Federer’s unusual offensive and above all public approach to the Barcelona star.
Nevertheless, Federer can see something positive in the discussion about the reform: “It will be exciting weeks. It’s a good thing everyone’s talking to each other.” With the postponement of the Davis Cup into September and the new format, Federer’s popular Laver Cup is in danger.
Last year the Laver Cup was held for the first time. The crème de la crème of ATP players gathered for a high-class fun tournament, which will be held in Chicago this year. With the new Davis Cup format, however, the show tournament could become obsolete.
The reasons for this are that the Laver Cup would take place in the same month as the planned Davis Cup. The fact that piqué has been in negotiations with ATP for months could also pose a problem. Piqué’s ambitions: The Kosmos Group pays royalties and in return receives the desired date in September and can distribute points for the world ranking list.
This would also make the planned World Team Cup in early January obsolete. Another aspect that puts the Laver Cup in danger.