Interview with Marco Gilardelli, President of the Potter Cup and Two Presidents Cup Committees

Ruth Birk: Hello Marco, first, thank you very much for being part of the Potter Cup and Two Presidents Cup competitions again. In the end, the competition is the competition and its people, and you've been a part of it for many years. You're the president of the Potter Cup Committee and now also of the Two Presidents Cup. Tell us how this international relationship began.

Marco Gilardelli: The relationship began in 1984 in Milan with Juan Maria Tintore, who asked Sergio Tachini and me to come play in the Potter Cup, and Sergio Tachini accepted. At that time, Sergio Tachini was the president of IC Italy, and I was the secretary. Since our first participation, we haven't missed a single year.

Ruth Birk: And from then until now, has much changed at the team level?

Marco Gilardelli: In terms of the number of teams, it hasn't changed much, but the level has changed significantly. Many players who have been professionals participate, and they believe playing in the Potter Cup is more important than playing in the world championship. In the world championship, you may lose to a player who hasn't been a great player before; here, if you lose, you know you're losing to a player of great level.

Ruth Birk: It's a competition with an extremely high level of players. Tell us what the appeal is.

Marco Gilardelli: It's a very attractive competition because it is a gathering of outstanding players.

Ruth Birk: The four nations that started the competition have participated in every edition. This is a unique commitment. Tell us what you think the secret is.

Marco Gilardelli: Besides the level of players, what is very attractive is the tradition of the International Clubs. That makes the IC commitment very strong. This year, the International Club of Great Britain celebrated its centenary by organizing an IC Week. Over the years, the IC has grown a lot in countries with English traditions, but now it's also growing in countries with Latin traditions.

Ruth Birk: Seven years ago, the women's competition began. What do you think about the level of the women's competition? Can it be compared to the men's level?

Marco Gilardelli: The level of the competition is rising significantly. It's certainly not easy because the Potter Cup has a tradition that spans many years, and the Two Presidents Cup is not yet well known among circuit players. I am personally trying to promote it to all the players finishing their professional careers in Italy. The Italian team currently here had WTA rankings between 100 and 150. In the men's team, there are players who had higher rankings.

Ruth Birk: What do you need to do to participate in the Potter Cup and be part of a team?

Marco Gilardelli: First, you need to be a member of the International Club of each country. Secondly, you must be selected to be part of the team. That is, if you're in shape, you might get in, or you might not. It is very prestigious to be part of a team.

Ruth Birk: Share an anecdote that you would like to highlight from your participation in the Potter Cup.

Marco Gilardelli: In the year 1992 we travelled with Sergio Tachini's private plane, with 5 former Davis Cup players: Sergio Tacchini, Beppe Merlo, Giordano Maioli, Giuseepe Pocci Merlo Maioli, Pesso, and me, Marco Gilardelli. In recent years, a player who has won a Grand Slam tournament has participated, such as Albert Costa or Manolo Orantes.

Ruth Birk: Congratulations, and from the RC Polo, we look forward to seeing you with excitement in the coming years.