Stan Wawrinka poked fun at the former organisers of the Davis Cup, ex-footballer Gerard Pique’s Kosmos company, over the sparse crowds for Switzerland’s tie against France in Manchester on Tuesday.
The three-time Grand Slam champion played in Switzerland’s 2014 Davis Cup triumph, when they beat France in the final, under the old format of knock-out ties played home and away. Kosmos changed the tournament in 2019 to include a group stage which is now played in several cities across Europe.
It has been widely criticised for causing late finishes and smaller crowds.
“Thank you Gerard Pique and the ITF!... lol,” the 38-year-old Wawrinka posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, along with a video showing the largely empty Manchester Arena. Wawrinka and Roger Federer starred for the Swiss in their only previous Davis Cup title victory, downing France at a packed Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.
Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler (right) and Stan Wawrinka in action against France’s Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin during their doubles Davis Cup finals Group B match at the AO Arena in Manchester on Tuesday. (AFP)
