
via Reuters
Tennis – U.S. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – August 29, 2023 Britain’s Andy Murray reacts during his first round match against France’s Corentin Moutet REUTERS/Mike Segar

via Reuters
Tennis – U.S. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – August 29, 2023 Britain’s Andy Murray reacts during his first round match against France’s Corentin Moutet REUTERS/Mike Segar
One of tennis’ oldest tournaments, the Davis Cup, has been trending for all the wrong reasons. Back in 2019, soccer star Gerard Pique’s company, Kosmos took control of the tournament and pledged a mammoth $3 Billion fund for it. However, going against everyone, they revamped the format of the tournament which didn’t go down well with players and fans.
The result of the poor decision-making was seen in the recently concluded tie between France and Australia. Reacting to it, former World Number 1, Andy Murray, has made a huge statement. France and Australia are two of the most successful nations in the Davis Cup. However, the recent tie between them saw a poor turnout. Here’s what Murray had to say.
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Andy Murray makes a massive claim on new Davis Cup structure
Recently, the 36-year-old was in Manchester where he participated in the Davis Cup finals. Murray played against Switzerland and won the only match he played during the group stage of the Davis Cup finals. During the event, saddening visuals emerged from the tie between France and Australia. Despite being renowned Davis Cup nations, the two countries were greeted with empty stands during their tie. As a result, Murray hit out at the organizers and opened up about the new Davis Cup format.

via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 18, 2022 Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates winning his first round match against Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili REUTERS/James Gourley
Talking about it, Murray said, “It is a shame that the meeting between France & Australia, two of the greatest nations in the Davis Cup, was played on Thursday in front of an empty stadium. No one in the council supported this reform.”
Andy Murray says no one in the council supported the Davis Cup reform:
“It is a shame that the meeting between France & Australia, two of the greatest nations in the Davis Cup, was played on Thursday in front of an empty stadium . No one in the council supported this reform.”… pic.twitter.com/JFoOdGXN2h
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 19, 2023
After facing huge criticism, ITF canceled the deal with Pique’s Kosmos earlier this year. However, Kosmos sought $50 million in damages for the canceled Davis Cup deal. Following the failed deal, Pique broke his silence on this matter.
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Pique defends his Davis Cup plan
The Spanish superstar caught a dejected look after ITF ended their Davis Cup deal with Kosmos. Opening up about his failed business venture, Pique said, “Yes, it was hard. But it depends on how you see it. We paid a fee to the ITF, which went up every year. We projected it to 25 years, that was the agreement, and we believed that there would be x income.”
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Not just Murray, the likes of Boris Becker, and Alexander Zverev have also slammed the organizers for poor Davis Cup structure and scheduling. While the deal with Kosmos is off, it remains to be seen if Davis Cup will go back to the old home-and-away format.
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