Brit Bedene’s switch BACK to Slovenia

ALJAZ BEDENE’S illfated attempts to represent Great Britain came to an end after he reverted to his original official nationality of Slovenian.

In a highly unusual reversal, the 28-year-old world No 49 — a dual citizen since March 2015 — announced that he would now be abandoning the Union Jack after more than two years.

Kyle Edmund moves up to British No 2 after Bedene applied to switch back in an attempt to make himself eligible for the 2020 Olympics.

At the root of this is Bedene’s failure to persuade the International Tennis Federation to allow him to play in the Davis Cup for Great Britain.

Bedene (right) had played in three matches for Slovenia and although they were all dead rubbers they were still judged to have counted against him.

In 2008 he began to base himself in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. He bought a house there, trained at the Gosling tennis centre and was granted UK citizenship. His then girlfriend — and since this summer wife — Kimalie attempted to launch a singing career in this country, but last year she moved back to Slovenia. Bedene was known to have followed her there and in May British player Dan Evans openly questioned his commitment to playing for Britain. At this year’s French Open Bedene hinted that playing in the Olympics was one of his major career goals — and the only way he can do that is to play in the Davis Cup. He explained himself yesterday, saying: ‘I have proudly called Britain my home for the last nine years and so many people there have made me feel welcome. ‘It was a dream of mine to be able to compete for a country that has given me so much in the Davis Cup. ‘At this stage of my career I do not want to miss the opportunity to play in the Davis Cup and Olympics.’