Bedene to switch allegiance from Britain back to Slovenia
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[December 16, 2017]
LONDON (Reuters) - World number
49 Aljaz Bedene has finally given up on representing his adopted
country Britain and will switch allegiance back to his native
Slovenia next year.
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.
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"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."
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![](../images/121617pics/sports49.jpg)
Great Britain’s Aljaz Bedene after falling during his third round
match against Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller REUTERS/Tony O'Brien
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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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