Gerard Pique and the Davis Cup, it’s over on the courts, but it continues in court. The former footballer announced in an interview published this Thursday by the daily brand that the Kosmos investment group he chairs is claiming “up to $50 million [45,5 millions d’euros] to the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Last January, the ITF took over the organization of the venerable competition, entrusted in August 2018 to Kosmos for 25 years and 3 billion dollars. Under the impulse of Pique, the formula had been turned upside down, to the chagrin of purists, in order to attract the best players who snubbed the event. But the initiative did not convince many people, starting with the rather rare public, and the story only lasted five years.
Damn covid
However, Piqué evokes a “resounding success” in brand. “When we arrived, the competition was in decline, explains the former defender of FC Barcelona, retired from the field since November 2022. And at the sporting, economic levels especially, as well as audiences, we have relaunched the event. In one year, we have multiplied revenues by four. We have gone from three to 15 partners. »
In short, everything was going according to Pique in the best of worlds until the arrival of the Covid. In 2020, the Davis Cup was canceled and played behind closed doors for part of the 2021 edition. [à l’ITF] was out of the market”, judges the 2010 world champion with La Roja, who evokes a sum of “40 million” dollars per year (36.4 million euros).
A return to tennis not ruled out
Despite this failure, Kosmos continues on its way, with in particular the Kings League (and now the Queens League) which offers 7-a-side football with revised rules and has met with great success in Spain.
And Pique does not rule out the idea of a return to tennis, a sport he loves, “if there is a possibility that suits me”. “It is the third sport in the world in terms of popularity, behind football and basketball. But there is a risk for the future if it does not modernize. “For Shakira’s former companion, too long matches would deter young people from being interested in them.