Boris Becker fires shots at Gerard Pique for destroying the Davis Cup without ‘KNOWING’ tennis

Kosmos promised a $3 billion investment over 25 years.

Boris Becker fires shots at Gerard Pique for destroying the Davis Cup without ‘KNOWING’ tennis

Boris Becker, Gerard Pique(Images via: Reuters, 90min.com)

Former tennis player and six times Grand Slam winner, Boris Becker slammed FC Barcelona‘s Gerard Pique and blamed him for wrecking up the legacy of the Davis Cup from yesteryears. The soccer star’s company, Kosmos had signed a 25-year deal with the ITF in 2019 to organize the prestigious Davis Cup. However, the deal didn’t work out as planned and ITF announced the end of the agreement in January earlier this year.

The tournament which features different teams with players representing their countries has faced criticism from former tennis star, Stanislas Wawrinka for low attendance at the events. The Swiss called out Pique for poor management of the Davis Cup. Boris Becker joined the Swiss player in calling out Pique.

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“I hope they have a moment of lucidity and decide in favor of tennis,” Becker said in reference to the ITF. The former tennis player proposed, “A quick change, returning to the old format with home and away matches. That’s the real Davis Cup, that’s the special atmosphere.” Throwing shade at Gerard Pique, Becker said that whoever devised the new rules “does not understand anything about tennis,” told Becker to Marca.

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The Davis Cup used to be one of the most beloved tournaments in the past. However, it has lost its appeal as an important team event ever since Kosmos introduced a new format. Defending himself from all the criticism, Gerard Pique put the blame on ITF. “Last year’s attendance during the group stage: 113,268. You can compare it yourself. We no longer organize it, ask the ITF,” the football player stated.

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Boris Becker reminisces golden days of the Davis Cup

The Davis Cup used to be a knockout team contest that was played at home in a best-of-five-sets format throughout the year. However, Kosmos changed it all, entering the tennis space 5 years back.

Novak Djokovic, Gerard Pique
Novak Djokovic, Gerard Pique (Images via Fox News, Sky Sports)

Boris Becker recalls what the tournament was like a few years back. “When Germany played in Spain it was one of the most exciting weekends I have ever experienced. That is where the Davis Cup must come back. The way it is played today is not good,” he pointed out.

Valencia in Spain was established as the headquarters of the Davis Cup. The tournament this year features 18 teams and will be played over 1 week in a world-class location. Speaking on the Davis Cup’s new format, Novak Djokovic assured at a press conference recently that even though “the format is not ideal”, players must “find the balance between the previous and the current one.”

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