In the end, it took less than five years for Gerard Pique’s revolutionary Davis Cup dream to go up in smoke after the International Tennis Federation announced that it had ended its deal with Kosmos, which was supposed to run for 25 years. 

Pique is, of course, the founder of the company Kosmos and had previously said that it would be his life’s mission to make the Davis Cup one of the most enthralling sporting events around the world. The Spaniard had a determined vision of what constitutes an adrenaline-filled spectacle. With the help of billionaire Larry Ellison, he tried to enforce sweeping changes to a tournament that was first played in 1900. 

In 2018, the duo managed to persuade the ITF’s members as they claimed 71 percent of the deciding vote regarding the proposed plans for the Davis Cup. It was a landmark day for Pique and his associates but as initially alluded to, just five years on from being awarded the rights to revamp the competition, the deal is now dead in the water. So, what exactly went wrong? 

Gerard Pique – The footballer who tried to change tennis

Unsurprisingly, Pique’s dramatic foray into the world of tennis wasn’t well received by players and fans of the sport. This was, after all, a man who had made a living trying to stop Barcelona Football Club from conceding goals. Yes, Pique enjoyed one of the most successful football careers representing Barcelona 616 times over the course of 14 years while winning everything on offer at domestic level. On top of that, Pique was able to win the 2010 World Cup as well as the Euro Championships with Spain in 2012. 

In many respects, it’s hard to find the words to sum up a career that returned this much silverware but to say the least, it was distinguished and makes the 35-year-old one of the most decorated players of all time. However, this astonishing trophy return did not earn any favour when he decided to venture into the world of tennis. Indeed, Pique’s radical plans to alter a competition that has been around for 123 years was met with a significant amount of skepticism and criticism.

Tellingly, the dissenting voices were not enough to put off the ITF who were swayed by the money Pique was willing to put into the new format in order to get it off the ground. All in all, Kosmos proposed a $3 billion injection which was enough for the ITF council to give him the green light. Still, even after the new-look Davis Cup was launched, Pique would remain in the firing life for turning an age-old tradition into what many felt was an unrecognizable farce.

Why did the new format not go down well?

Pique turned the Davis Cup into a week-long event at the end of the season that resembled a World Cup of tennis. It meant that the tournament had to bid farewell to its biggest selling point which was the alternating host factor. This was, without doubt, one of the best features of the Davis Cup as teams had to play in other countries which meant that partisan home crowds roared them on. This level of home support often saw underdog nations pull off extraordinary upsets and write a new chapter into the fabled history of this event. By scrapping this hugely popular home-and-away format in favour of a neutral venue, the competition failed to capture the public’s imagination.

Needless to say, with dwindling interest, it no longer made sense for Pique and his partners to continue throwing money at the tournament. As a result of poor viewing figures, Kosmos tried to renegotiate their deal with the ITF. In the end, both groups decided that a parting of ways would be the easiest solution.

What now for the 123-year-old tournament after the funding was pulled?

Despite Pique and his financial backers walking away from the Davis Cup, the reassuring news for tennis fans is that the ITF has funding to ensure the event is held in 2023. While some may be skeptical of the ITF’s promises after the debacle of the last five years, fans can take them at their word given that there are supporting signs that the Davis Cup will go ahead as planned. 

For starters, most bookmakers have listed odds for the 2023 showpiece and this trend can be observed around the world. For instance, all the best tennis betting sites in New Jersey, which include Betway, bet365 and Unibet, still have dedicated sections to the Davis Cup on their apps and websites. On top of a host of global bookmakers from New Jersey to Cape Town still taking bets on the team event, there have also been encouraging indications that some of the world’s best players intend to work the 2023 Davis Cup into their schedule.

At the top of that list is Novak Djokovic. This name should get fans excited given that the Serb is the outright favourite to win every men’s Grand Slam this year which includes Wimbledon after being given a price of +110 to go all the way at the All England Club. Andy Murray has also stated his desire to play in the end-of-year team event which is another positive sign.

Lastly, fans can also currently buy tickets for matches at the Davis Cup. They start at $50 with the higher-end tickets selling for $200. Undoubtedly, this provides further proof that the funds are in place to stage the tournament. 

What does the future look like after 2023?

Ardent Davis Cup fans will be hoping that the end of Pique’s involvement means that the tournament returns to the format that is adored around the world. There is, however, the financial aspect and the recent gaping hole in the ITF’s finances to consider when weighing up if the event will revert to its old format.

At least, one thing Pique was certainly right about was that the prize money in the event didn’t do enough to convince players to make the annual Davis Cup a regular feature on their calendars. Yes, there will always be a debate about what a tennis player’s priorities should be with some arguing that playing for one’s country should always trump any other commitments. While it is a moving sentiment, the reality is that professional tennis has never worked like that because individual performances have always been rewarded the most. In short, the ITF will have to find new sponsors or else face an uncertain future with the best players likely to continue to give it a wide berth.

Going forward, the balancing act will be to ensure that the ITF finds the finances to keep the event going while honouring the age-old traditions of the Davis Cup. This leads us to one final question: what is the price of survival? It may not be the reforms that Pique passionately preached but then again, there may have to be a few compromises made so that the world of tennis doesn’t lose the Davis Cup for good. Indeed, fans have seen a version they don’t like but now that there is very little promised as far as the staging of future events goes, there may be more appetite to watch an amended version.