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Internet Desk: Gerard Pique has become one of the most influential individual to bring a revolution in the world of tennis.
The Spanish defender along with his team of associates is to launch a new International men’s team event. This event will rival the famous Davis Cup.
This new competition will feature almost sixteen countries, and would almost be like a World Cup type event that would be held for a week.
The Barcelona footballer had discussed about his plan with the senior tour officials of the ATP after he reportedly spent several days at the Madrid Open.
The 30 year-old Spanish defender is known for his entrepreneurial interests, as well as being a huge follower of tennis. He is friends with most of the Spanish players, attends the annual Barcelona Open on most days and is happy to brave the whistling of the Madrid crowd when he sits in the stands to watch at this tournament.
The ATP Tour featured a relatively low key event known as the World Team Cup from 1975 until 2012, when it was abolished with no replacement lined up.
It had only eight teams and attracted few of the top players in its slot prior to the French Open, as most of the stars wished to be in Paris focusing on their preparations for the clay court Grand Slam.
The new event, which has already been discussed by the tour’s main Board, would be of a different order, with sufficient prize money being offered to attract the best players and a more satisfactory date in the calendar.
The ATP did not wish to comment but senior sources have confirmed this to Sportsmail.
These proposals come at a time when the Davis Cup, run by the International Tennis Federation, has never been more vulnerable to a rival enterprise.
However much it is loved within the game and by fans in many countries, its four-week annual format is making it hard to gain the participation of the biggest stars in a sport where the physical demands are greater than ever.
While the ITF recognizes that change is needed, it is struggling to get any significant alterations past its constituent bodies. Many see a proposal merely to reduce matches to best-of-three sets as simply not going far enough to revive it.
Finding a good date is likely to be the most problematic aspect of launching the new event, but there is an increasing awareness that the sport needs more in the way of team competition.
Pique may find himself in good company when trying to confront these obstacles, for even Roger Federer is discovering the difficulties of a new launch in tennis.
In late September Federer and his management agency, Team 8, are putting on the Laver Cup, a new event in Prague which pitches the cream of Europe against the Rest of the World.
There will be six players on either side in what will be a three day match, with four chosen on ranking supplemented by two ‘Captain’s picks’, Ryder Cup-style, made by skippers John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.
It is undoubtedly a clever concept, although even someone with the influence of Federer is not finding the project entirely plain sailing.
In a considerable body blow it can be revealed that Kei Nishikori – world number eight, by far the biggest tennis star in Asia and the ROW’s second highest ranked player – has already indicated to organizers that he will not play.
“Maybe I try to play but mostly no.” said the Japanese tennis star. It will be difficult for him as this grand event commences just before the autumn events of Asia.
The promotion of the Laver Cup is being held and endorsed at a huge rate and has been remarked as the slickest marketing in tennis.
Tennis stars Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic will possibly not participate in the event but there is a huge probability for Brit star Andy Murray to play.
When the appeal of a team event was made in February, tickets were all sold out within hours at the 02 Arena in Prague.