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BSP-04
TENNIS-ATP-SUI-DAVIS-FEDERER
Federer ignored deadline set by ‘new’ Davis Cup
BASEL, Switzerland, Oct 28, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Roger Federer has revealed
that organisers of the re-launched and condensed Davis Cup gave him three
days to decide if he would commit to the controversial competition.
Speaking at the Swiss Indoors tournament where he will play in Sunday’s
final against Romanian qualifier Marius Copil, the world number three said
that given the impossibly short time frame to make a decision, he opted out
of any commitment.
“They only left me three days to decide,” Federer said. “I didn’t to have
time to consult with all the people I had to consult.
“I could not make a decision in that time, so I told them to do what they
wanted.”
The 20-time Grand Slam champion has voiced doubts about the wisdom of the
one-week format to be introduced by organisers Kosmos, who have promised the
International Tennis Federation up to $3 billion in prize money over the next
quarter-century.
The competition is set to feature 18 countries in the November 18-24 finals
in Madrid next year, and will replace the classic home-and-away ties played
four times per year for decades.
Kosmos is headed by Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique, who is hoping fellow
Spaniard Rafael Nadal will play in the upcoming event.
Novak Djokovic has said he will give precedence to the ATP’s intended re-
launch of the defunct World Team Cup in January 2020, at various Australian
venues.
Major players feel that a big event in late November combined with one in
January before the Australian Open will mean too much tennis and too little
rest.
Federer said earlier this month in Shanghai in that his chances of playing
the Davis Cup were all but non-existent.
“I highly doubt it, of course. We’ll see what happens,” he said.
“I don’t think this was designed for me, anyhow. This was designed for the
future generation of players.”
Argentina and Britain received wild cards to the new-look event, and will
compete along with the four 2018 semi-finalists and the 12 teams who win
qualifying rounds next February.
“I don’t like being under that kind of pressure,” Federer said of the
deadline Kosmos handed him.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0914 hrs