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The 28-year-old became a British citizen in
2015 but his hopes of playing in the Davis Cup were thwarted by
a rule change brought in by the International Tennis Federation
(ITF) that prevents players appearing for more than one country.
Bedene, who has lived in Britain for nine years, played in three
dead rubbers for Slovenia between 2010 and 2012.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday he said he
had made the decision so that he could try to qualify for the
2020 Tokyo Olympics -- a process that would require him to play
in a minimum number of Davis Cup ties in the build-up.
"I want to share with you that I have informed the ITF of my
intention to represent Slovenia, my country of birth, from
January 1, 2018," Bedene, who was the British number two, said.
"One of my main goals for my career going forward will be to
play in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. At this stage in my career,
I do not want to miss the opportunity to compete in the Davis
Cup and the Olympics, two events that mean so much to me and
that is what has informed my decision."
Bedene appealed against the ITF's decision last year, saying the
rule change had been brought in after he became a British
citizen, but despite strong support from the Lawn Tennis
Association it was rejected.
Claycourt specialist Bedene won 16 straight matches on the ATP
World Tour and second-tier Challenger Tour in April but suffered
with knee problems towards the end of the season.
His brother Andraz recently became assistant to Slovenia's Davis
Cup captain Miha Mlakar.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)
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