Federer's fiery warning for Spanish football superstar

Roger Federer has taken a shot at one of Spain’s biggest football stars over his plans for a revamped Davis Cup tennis tournament.

The Swiss ace has fired a warning shot to Gerard Pique after it was revealed the Barcelona star wants to hold the re-structured event in September.

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Pique is behind the Kosmos investment group that has partnered with the International Tennis Federation to make radical change to the historic competition, the centrepiece of which will now be a World Cup-style week-long event beginning next year.

Having initially said it would be held in November in the same week the Davis Cup final is currently played, Pique told Le Figaro last weekend that he is now working to change it to September after discussions with several leading players.

That would see it become a direct rival to the Laver Cup, the Ryder Cup-style competition devised by Federer and his agent Tony Godsick, with Geneva due to host the third edition from September 20-22 next year.

Speaking to French-speaking reporters following his first-round win over Yoshihito Nishioka at the US Open, Federer said he believed more discussions were necessary before changes are made.

“I’m in favour of innovation, and not everything is negative with the new Davis Cup,” Federer said.

“Now the ATP, the ITF and the organisers of the Laver Cup have to meet to discuss around a table.

“For us tennis players, it’s a little strange that a footballer comes to interfere in our world. He must remain very careful. The Davis Cup should not become the Pique Cup.”

Federer left fans in a frenzy after his first round victory at Flushing Meadows when he dropped a massive retirement hint.

The Swiss ace next faces Frenchman Benoit Paire in the second round of the US Open, as he aims to extend his grand slam record 20 singles titles.

With AAP