Bedene switches from Great Britain to Slovenia

Dec 16, 2017
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Bedene switches from Great Britain to Slovenia

Published Dec 16, 2017

Aljaz Bedene has switched his playing nationality back to his native Slovenia after three years of playing for Great Britain.

The world No. 49 originally switched to playing for Great Britain after gaining citizenship in 2015 in hopes of greater funding and playing opportunities. A controversial ruling by the ITF barred him from competing for Britain in the Davis Cup or Olympic due to his prior play for Slovenia in two Davis Cup dead rubbers.

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In a statement, Bedene, a native of Ljubljana, Slovenia, said that the ITF’s decision to not allow him to play in Davis Cup or the Olympics for Great Britain was the major reason behind his decision to go back to playing for his home nation.

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While Bedene did not mention it, many British players and officials’ hostility towards Bedene likely also played a part in his ultimate decision.

Dan Evans was particularly against Bedene playing under the British flag. Evans was a member of the 2015 Davis Cup winning British team and is currently serving a one-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine.

Bedene is set to begin the 2018 season in Doha.

Follow Thomas on Twitter @thomas_cluck917.