Soccer superstars are making a major footprint on Davis Cup.
Iconic Argentinean star Lionel Messi is invested in the reformed Davis Cup through his work with investment group Kosmos, which is headed by former FC Barcelona star Gerard Pique.
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Kosmos struck a 25-year, $3 billion deal with the International Tennis Federation that the ITF claims will elevate Davis Cup "to Grand Slam prize money levels."
"Leo knows more than anyone about this because he is involved in Kosmos," Pique told the Spanish media at yesterday's Davis Cup draw ceremony in Madrid. "He is a partner, he is part of the Kosmos family, he likes tennis. We have a relationship of 18 years since he arrived at the club and I always try to share with him things I'm thinking, he loves to be part of it and he wanted to be part of it."
Pique said while Messi does not play tennis himself, he is an avid fan.
"We've known each other since he came to the club and we share interest in sports," Pique told Spanish publication Marca. "Tennis and the Davis Cup are included in them."
The week-long, World Cup-style Davis Cup final will be staged Madrid's La Caja Magica on November 18-24.
A plan spearheaded by ITF president David Haggerty and investment group Kosmos, headed by former FC Barcelona star Gerard Pique, reforms Davis Cup creating a final that will see 18 nations compete in a week-long Davis Cup finale.
Incensed that a soccer star is playing such a pivotal role reforming Davis Cup, Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt said changes to the 119-year-old international team competition are too extreme.
"Personally I think they will have to tweak the new format," the two-time Grand Slam champion said. "They have gone from one end of the spectrum to the other and they are going to have to deal with it.
"Now we are getting run by a Spanish football player and he knows nothing about tennis and that is ridiculous. He is trying to (transform tennis into soccer). His group has bought into the ITF and they are basically running the ITF—a soccer league is the main sponsor of the Davis Cup, and that to me is mind boggling."
Photo credit: FIFA