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Murray & Nadal support Pique's ambitious 'Tennis World Cup' plan

Not content with conquering football with Barcelona as one of the best defenders in the world, Spain international Gerard Pique has now set his sights on improving tennis.

The 30-year-old regularly attends tennis matches and competitions, and has been in talks with ATP officials about the formation of a Tennis World Cup.

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Pique's tournament would involve 16 countries and would take place over 10 days as an alternative to the Davis Cup, which is played over four weekends throughout the year.

Scottish tennis player Andy Murray and Spain's Rafael Nadal have both backed the proposal, saying that it would be great for the game.

"For many years they have been static. They haven't moved with the times or looked for new solutions," Nadal is reported as saying by the BBC.

"Pique is part of a group that wants to create a World Cup that would be a great and very interesting tournament to compete in.

Rafael NadalGetty

"It's a fantastic initiative -- I think the fans and the circuit need an event like this. I don't know Gerard, nor have I spoke with him, and I don't think he will be the boss of the project, but I hope that his proposal is taken forward."

Men's world number two, Novak Djokovic has also gotten on board with Pique's plan, claiming that his involvement can be beneficial to growing tennis to a bigger audience.

"To see one of the football greats coming to the tennis world and trying to support it personally, but also in some structural business way, can only bring positives to our sport," Djokovic said.

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Pique's plan is already causing the International Tennis Federation to take notice, with the governing body claiming that it is looking at ways to improve the current structure of the Davis Cup.

"Our focus is not on what other bodies are trying to do, but in successfully delivering Davis Cup as the world cup of tennis to millions of fans in over 120 nations each year," the ITF told the BBC.

"A number of significant changes to the competition's structure, prize money and format will be voted on by all tennis nations at the ITF AGM in August."

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