This archive report was first published on 11 May 2020.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of the Davis Cup Finals hangs in the balance. According to Barcelona football star Gerard Pique, the event's financial backer, the November 23-29 finals in Madrid may not take place as scheduled.
Pique's Kosmos investment group has a 25-year deal worth $3 billion with the International Tennis Federation. However, with the pandemic showing no signs of abating, Pique is pessimistic about the event's prospects.
"There is a lot of uncertainty, we try to be aware of what the government says regarding sports and to whether we can put spectators inside the Caja Magica," Pique told Movistar television.
Spain, one of the worst-affected countries by the pandemic, has started a four-phase plan to relax its strict confinement rules. However, the plan allows for a maximum of 400 people to attend open-air events and just 50 if they are held indoors.
With the ATP and WTA tours not resuming until July 13 at the earliest, the prospects of the Davis Cup Finals seem increasingly uncertain.
Spain won the first edition of the new-look Davis Cup in 2019, beating Canada 2-0 in the final in Madrid. The event's organizers will have to navigate the complex web of COVID-19 restrictions to ensure the event's success.
