Boris Becker to Gerard Piqué—Stick to football in tennis rule debate
Former footballer Gerard Piqué suggests eliminating second serves and changing deuce rules to modernize the sport.
Gerard Piqué has once again stirred conversation in the tennis world with his latest proposals to modernize the sport. The former footballer’s company, Kosmos, previously revamped the Davis Cup before a failed partnership with the ITF. In a podcast discussion with former teammate Iker Casillas, Piqué questioned the necessity of the traditional two-serve system, suggesting that eliminating the second serve could reduce downtime during matches. He also criticized the current deuce-advantage scoring, advocating for a “golden point” or sudden-death scenario at 40-40 to expedite game progression. According to Piqué, these changes would speed up matches and make tennis more engaging for younger fans.
His ideas were met with sharp criticism from former Grand Slam champion Boris Becker, who dismissed Piqué’s suggestions and urged him to focus on football instead. American coach and commentator Brad Gilbert echoed Becker’s sentiments, arguing that the sport does not need such drastic changes. However, not everyone in the tennis community is against Piqué’s proposals. Tennis agent John Morris defended his right to voice his opinion, pointing out his financial investment in the sport.
Piqué’s involvement in tennis has been contentious since his company Kosmos restructured the Davis Cup in 2018, a project that ultimately collapsed in 2023 due to a breakdown in negotiations with the ITF. Despite the controversy, he remains vocal about evolving the sport, insisting that tennis must embrace innovation to stay relevant in an increasingly fast-paced world. Whether his latest ideas gain traction or face outright rejection remains to be seen.
Inside the Baseline…
Piqué’s latest tennis “innovation” feels like another case of an outsider trying to fix what isn’t broken. Tennis has evolved plenty over the years, but gutting the fundamentals, like second serves and deuce battles, just to speed things up? That’s not evolution, that’s dilution. The drama of a second-serve ace under pressure or a 10-minute deuce game is what makes this sport gripping. Sure, fresh ideas are welcome, but they need to come from those who actually understand the rhythm and soul of the game—not someone who just dabbled in it for a business venture.
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