Davis Cup: Gerard Pique wants 24 teams instead of 18 teams
Gerard Pique hopes for future editions of the Davis Cup both an increase from 18 to 24 nations as well as a two-week event.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Nov 05, 2019, 12:34 pm
The first edition of the "new Davis Cup" is still to come, but co-initiator Gerard Pique is already thinking about the future of the event. In the future, the competition should be contested by 24 nations and be held over two weeks.
"This is a long-term project," said Pique about the planned changes. This season, a final round of 18 teams will be held for the first time at the Caja Magica in Madrid from 18 to 24 November, despite the loud criticism of the new mode, including Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Dispute with Federer
On the other hand, Roger Federer will be absent because he could not qualify for the tournament with Switzerland. Whether the 20-time Grand Slam winner otherwise would have played in the Spanish capital, may be doubted. Because Pique is looking for the Davis Cup a new date and thought aloud about replacing the co-organized by Federer Laver Cup in the calendar.
"They see the Davis Cup as a small competition compared to their event," said Barcelona center-back Pique over Federer manager Tony Godsick and Federer himself. It seems unlikely that the 38-year-old will compete in the new Davis Cup before.