Fresh doubt "has been cast on the legitimacy and existence of the revamped Davis Cup" by a high-level meeting during the ATP World Tour Finals which "revealed the scope of player indifference to the controversial new team competition," according to Will Swanton of THE AUSTRALIAN. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic reportedly chaired the secret meeting during last month’s season-ending tournament at London’s O2 Arena. The Int'l Tennis Federation’s abbreviated version of the 118-year-old Davis Cup competition was a "hot topic of discussion." Djokovic is president of the 10-member Association of Tennis Professionals Council and "holds significant sway among players." He had "already confirmed he would be absent from the revised cup tournament." Alongside him in London were Roger Federer and "every leading player in singles and doubles, except the injured Rafael Nadal." Sources revealed the meeting "finished with none of the players guaranteeing their involvement" in next year’s Cup finals. It is understood the 25-year, $3B agreement between the ITF and the Gerard Piqué-led Spanish consortium "contains a clause demanding the involvement of the majority of the world’s top 20 players."
THE NUMBERS GAME: The designated number is reportedly between 15 and 18. If "less than the prescribed ration of players were available for the Cup finals, Kosmos could pull the pin" and the new teams event "could be over before it has begun." World No. 4 Alexander Zverev, "the future of the sport" and an "enthusiastic participant in the old Davis Cup, said he was a non-starter for the new one." Zverev said, "Because in November I do not want to play tennis anymore. I think all the top guys will say the same thing." Federer suggested at the US Open that a football player "was not entitled to redesign tennis." He said, "I have not spoken to Gerard Piqué yet, but I admit that it’s a bit odd to see a footballer arrive and meddle in the tennis business. Be careful. The Davis Cup should not become the Piqué Cup." Piqué "has been dismissive of Federer." The Barcelona player said, "If he wants to play, that will be fantastic. We’ll open the door to him. If not, that’s fine. Because of his age he tends to prioritize emblematic tournaments. His people haven’t closed the door" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/11).
