Roger Federer in line of fire over scheduling and Davis Cup claims

© Getty

Roger Federer, reaching for the 100th tournament win of his 20-year career in London this week, found himself at the centre of an awkward controversy on Monday over claims he has long benefited from preferential scheduling, and that he is undermining the integrity of the Davis Cup.

Julien Benneteau, who came out of retirement this year to help France to reach the Davis Cup final, says Federer has put his financial involvement in the rival Laver Cup above the future of the oldest team event in international sport. The outspoken Benneteau told a French radio station: “With all that Federer is, OK. But it’s an exhibition, his thing [promoted by his company, Team8]. The Laver Cup has no sporting legitimacy.

There are no sporting criteria with the selections. There are no ATP points. It’s just financial. Because he gives Nick Kyrgios $750,000 to come and play matches that don’t count, the guys say: ‘OK, those are the rates for the Laver Cup.’

------------------

Sourced: The Guardian