Every sportsperson knows best about their sport even if they are open to innovations. So, if abrupt changes are made by disregarding the players in the sport, it can lead to the backlash that we are seeing now in one of tennis’ most iconic tournaments. After the compatriot of Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, it is the British tennis star, Andy Murray who has bashed the Gerard Pique-managed Davis Cup.
The usual 10,000-person arena seems to be empty in one of the most popular matches during the tournament. This has irked the British tennis star who is openly making a jibe at the Davis Cup authorities for ignoring the concerns of the players since the inception of the new format.
After Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray bashes Gerard Pique managed Davis Cup
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It was in 2018 when the management company, Kosmos, entered a deal with the ITF to run the Davis Cup for 25 years. The change in the patterns of the tournament is now bearing devastating effects. Therefore, Murray is not letting the authorities get away with it.
Pique’s company introduced a world-cup-style knock-out format which did not receive the players’ approval. As reported by the Times, he stated, “I was on the ATP player council when the initial discussions were had about this format. Not one person on the council supported it.”
However, they still went ahead with the proceedings, now leading to a massive upheaval in the tournament’s patterns.
🗣️”I was on the ATP player council when the initial discussions were had about this format. Not one person on the council supported it”
Murray criticises Davis Cup organisers for ignoring player concerns |✍️@stu_fraser https://t.co/rwuuygARuY
— Times Sport (@TimesSport) September 16, 2023
Even though 9,000 people came to sport the British team, the match between France and Switzerland saw empty stands. Interestingly, these two teams are one of the most loved teams in the Davis Cup.
That is why Swiss tennis icon Stan Wawrinka too condemned the authorities. He took a blunt dig at the new changes after witnessing the empty stands.
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The compatriot of Roger Federer did not go easy on Pique and Davis Cup authorities
After witnessing almost an empty stadium during the Davis Cup final between France and Switzerland, Wawrinka was in shock. However, he made sure to let people know what was happening.
He took to Twitter (now X) to share the video of the empty stadium and thanked Gerard Pique and ITF sarcastically. This speaks volumes about the continuous discontent that the top-tier tennis players have had with the new Davis Cup format.
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