Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/1182564
10 ITFWorld // AUTUMN 2019 G E R A R D P I Q U E I N T E R V I E W 'DAVIS CUP STRONGER DECADE' is going to be than it has been for a GERARD PIQUE STILL REMEMBERS THE FIRST TIME HE GOT HOOKED ON TENNIS – AND IT WAS LONG BEFORE HE WAS TO BECOME INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS FOR PLAYING A DIFFERENT SPORT. He was eight years old when his father took him to Barcelona's celebrated Real Club to watch the annual professional tournament and the players who, along with footballers, were his first sporting heroes. "My father is a member of the Real Club, I've been going there since I was a kid," he recalls. "I used to watch Carlos Moya, Albert Costa, Alberto Berasategui, Carlos Costa. I always loved football, but tennis has been my passion as well. Ultimately, I chose football, which I guess has been a smart choice." That is something of an understatement, as he has gone on to build up a collection of medals and trophies almost unparalleled among players in the world's most popular game. Having fulfilled his dreams in one athletic pursuit, now comes the chance to fulfil some more in his other sport of choice – this time in the form of reshaping the Davis Cup in line with his own vision and that of colleagues at Kosmos. One of them happens to be Albert Costa, the former French Open champion and one of those he used to watch. He is now Tournament Director of the revamped competition that will feature 18 nations playing over one week at Madrid's Caja Magica. Pique occasionally plays tennis with members of the Kosmos staff, and even at Barcelona it is not hard to find Kosmos President Gerard Pique talks to ITFWorld about his love for tennis and his long-term hopes for the historic competition. By Mike Dickson Gerard Pique and partner Shakira alongside the Davis Cup trophy in New York