It’s extremely rare that Roger Federer gets involved in a public feud. But the Swiss maestro had some choice words for Gerard Pique regarding the proposed Tennis World Cup event.
“For us tennis players it’s a bit strange to see a soccer player come into our world. He should be careful. The Davis Cup should not become the Piqué Cup” — Federer on Gerard Piqué, according to Swiss news reports.
The word is the group behind the Tennis World Cup event, led by the ITF and Pique, is targeting September as it’s preferred calendar slot, which would collide with Federer’s Laver Cup event.
Pique’s buddy Rafael Nadal is not playing Laver Cup next month in Chicago. Last year, Nadal and Federer teamed up in doubles and as teammates for Team Europe which burst the new Laver Cup event onto the sporting landscape in spectacular fashion.
Now without Nadal and this new Tennis World Cup event on the horizon, suddenly the Laver Cup could be on shaky ground after such a stunning debut in 2017.
Federer is wary of this new threat to his young exhibition event and Pique has been sent a very stern message…”He should be careful” almost sounds like a threat.
We will have to wait and see if Pique, David Haggerty and the ITF respect the message from Mr. Federer.
Federer · Laver Cup · Pique · Tennis World Cup
10 comments
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Duke Carnoustie · August 30, 2018 at 11:36 am
I saw this. Clearly Fed sees the competition as a threat to his beloved Laver Cup. I don’t blame him. Players will have to decide on whether to stick with Camp Fed or Pique. Not sure which way they will decide since money talks.
Joe Blow · August 30, 2018 at 12:44 pm
Think Fed is worried, as are a bunch of other ATP Players, whether this Pique guy will be able to come up with the 3 billion.
The ATP had some other deal with some company that fell apart because they couldn’t come up with the funds they promised
Hartt · August 30, 2018 at 12:55 pm
Presumably they will want the current Davis Cup week in Sept., although that puts it very close to the USO. That is the week before the Laver Cup, so Fed is right to be concerned.
George · August 30, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Davis Cup should be a one or two week event combined with the women’s Fed Cup to be held after the US Open.
The team format should be like collegiate tennis with combination of mens and womens singles, doubles and mixed.
The reigning champion would be the host country. The final to be held every two years to avoid the Olympics. The off year will be for countries to make the bracket for the finals the following year and for the top teams to get seeded.
The teams atmosphere would be fantastic with the countries top men and women on the same team. Cheering should be allowed. Also, play service lets and sets should end at 4 to quicken play.
Scoop Malinowski · August 30, 2018 at 3:50 pm
George, I like your George Cup plans. Make it happen!
George · August 30, 2018 at 7:01 pm
Haha. I am full time physician and weekend 4.0 player. No one will listen to me…
Hartt · August 31, 2018 at 7:03 am
I was annoyed when Fed made this statement. He stayed pretty quiet during the debate preceding the Davis cup vote, was basically neutral in the little bit he did say. But now that the event could impact Laver Cup, suddenly he makes a strong statement.
Scoop Malinowski · August 31, 2018 at 7:12 am
Hartt, Federer is not the only one to stay silent when Davis Cup was hanging on to it’s last breaths. Hewitt was about the only one who stood up.
Scoop Malinowski · August 31, 2018 at 7:24 am
George, we all might be surprised who reads this site. I am certain some big names do drop in.
Hartt · August 31, 2018 at 10:27 am
Scoop, it’s true that a lot of players stayed silent during the debate. But there were others besides Hewitt who spoke out against it – Mahut and Pouille immediately come to mind. In fact, Pouille said he would boycott Davis Cup if the changes went through.