Gerard Pique confident of luring Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to revamped Davis Cup

Pique also says door remains open for Roger Federer, who has not played in old version of competition since 2015

epa06972648 (L-R) Tennis players, Madison Keys, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal participate at the '2018 Arthur Ashe Kids Day' at the 2018 US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 25 August 2018.  EPA/PETER FOLEY
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Gerard Pique believes Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will both play in the reformed Davis Cup next year and has said the "door remains open" to Roger Federer.

Pique was speaking on Wednesday in Madrid, where the tournament finals will be contested over a week in November 2019, as part of a host of controversial changes to the format of the 118-year-old competition.

The new Davis Cup carries many complications, not least because it is set to lock horns with the ATP's World Team Cup, another inaugural event expected to take place just a few weeks later in Australia.

November is also traditionally the month when top players begin their time off at the end of a congested 10-month season.

For the tournament to be a success, and convince supporters to travel, it will likely need the grandees of the men's game - Nadal, Djokovic and Federer - to participate.

"I have spoken with all those players," said Pique, the Barcelona defender who is also the president and founder of Kosmos, the company promoting the new Davis Cup.

"With Rafa it is very positive, if he does not have an injury he will be there.

"On Novak, if he has to choose between the two he says he will play the ATP tournament. I took the opportunity to talk to him because he represents the players and the meeting was very positive. I am confident we can reach an agreement."

Federer is the least likely of the trio to play given the now 37-year-old player has long been very selective in the tournaments he enters.

The Swiss prioritises the four grand slam events and has not played in the Davis Cup since 2015.

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epa07100457 FC Barcelona's Spanish defender and Founder and CEO of Kosmos, Gerard Pique, delivers a speech during the presentation event of Madrid as home of the two next editions of the Davis Cup tennis competition in Madrid, Spain, 17 October 2018.  EPA/Fernando Alvarado
Gerard Pique, the Barcelona defender and CEO of Kosmos, hopes for the best tennis players to compete in the Davis Cup. EPA

Pique added: "Federer is at a point in his career in which he prioritises the most important tournaments. I have talked with his people and I have not closed any doors."

Earlier this month, Djokovic commented on the "poor timing" of the new Davis Cup while Federer said he "highly doubted" he would play, adding he felt it was "designed for the future generation of players".

The proposed week is between November 18 and 24 next year.

Pique insisted that the International Tennis Federation, which runs the Davis Cup, is "still in negotiations" with the ATP, the organisation responsible for the men's tour, regarding its equivalent competition.

"Nobody knows if the two competitions can co-exist," said Pique. "The competition they intend to create for now is a new project - the Davis Cup has a longer history and much more credibility."