According to reports ‘Wawrinka Upset with Gerard Pique over Low Attendance at Davis Cup Clash’ Stanislas Wawrinka expressed his frustration with former Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique over the disappointing turnout at the Switzerland Davis Cup clash with France, which is currently taking place in Manchester.
Despite both teams fielding strong lineups, the event has seen a notably low attendance.
Wawrinka placed blame on Pique due to his association with the Kosmos Group, which played a pivotal role in revamping the Davis Cup in 2018. Pique serves as the face of Kosmos Group, which introduced significant changes to the Davis Cup format in 2019, including the removal of home and away ties in favor of a World Cup-style event culminating in November.
The deal was valued at approximately £2.5 billion and was intended to run for 25 years, but waning interest has cast a shadow over the prestigious competition.
In a tweet, the world No. 40 shared his disappointment at the low turnout, writing, “Thank you Gerard Pique and ITF! France vs. Switzerland in Manchester,” accompanied by an angry face emoji.
However, Wawrinka may not have to wait long for renewed interest in the Davis Cup, as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) terminated its partnership with Kosmos in January, just five years into the agreement. While the current format will remain for this year, changes are expected for next year’s event.
The ITF issued a statement confirming the end of its partnership with Kosmos Tennis for the Davis Cup: “The ITF negotiated a strong deal for tennis in 2018. The partnership increased participation, prize money, and interest in Davis Cup and produced funding to support the global development of our sport.”
Facts About Gerard Pique And The Davis Cup
- Pique is a co-founder of Kosmos Tennis, the company that owns the Davis Cup.
- He was instrumental in the decision to change the format of the Davis Cup in 2019, from a home-and-away format to a one-week event held in a single city.
- The new format has been controversial, with some critics arguing that it has devalued the competition.
- However, Pique has defended the new format, saying that it has made the Davis Cup more exciting and accessible to fans.
- He has also said that he is committed to growing the Davis Cup and making it a more sustainable competition.
Here are some fun facts about Pique:
- He is a lifelong fan of tennis and has played the sport since he was a child.
- He is also a keen golfer and has played in several celebrity tournaments.
- He is married to Colombian singer Shakira and they have two children together.
- He is a vocal advocate for social causes and has been involved in campaigns to promote education and equality.
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