Videos Live Scores Podcasts Opinion Interviews Business of Sport Inside Story Football Cricket Tennis Formula One Golf NBA UFC UAE Racquet Sports Fitness

Roger Federer fires warning to Barcelona star Gerard Pique over Davis Cup plans

Eleanor Crooks

23:20 29/08/2018

Roger Federer has fired a warning shot to Gerard Pique after it was revealed the Barcelona footballer wants to hold the revamped Davis Cup in September.

Pique is behind the Kosmos investment group that has partnered with the International Tennis Federation to make radical change to the historic competition, the centrepiece of which will now be a World Cup-style week-long event beginning next year.

Having initially said it would be held in November in the same week the Davis Cup final is currently played, Pique told Le Figaro last weekend that he is now working to change it to September after discussions with several leading players.

That would see it become a direct rival to the Laver Cup, the Ryder Cup-style competition devised by Federer and his agent Tony Godsick, with Geneva due to host the third edition from September 20-22 next year.

Speaking to French-speaking reporters following his first-round win over Yoshihito Nishioka at the US Open on Tuesday, Federer said: “I’m in favour of innovation, and not everything is negative with the new Davis Cup.

“Now the ATP, the ITF and the organisers of the Laver Cup have to meet to discuss around a table. For us tennis players, it’s a little strange that a footballer comes to interfere in our world. He must remain very careful. The Davis Cup should not become the Pique Cup.”

More from roger-federer

ONE Friday Fights 59: French-Algerian looks to maintain KO momentum in headliner

New ONE Championship king Alexis Nicolas ready to fight ‘the world’

French-Algerian Alexis Nicolas reflects on becoming ONE Championship world champ

Tickets on sale for Abu Dhabi World Judo Championships to be held at Mubadala Arena

ONE Fight Night 21: Grappling twins facing a big night in Bangkok

ONE Fight Night 21: Two-sport champion Regian Eersel could face toughest challenge to date

Most Popular