Bedene considers switching his allegiance back to Slovenia in bid for Olympic chance
Aljaz Bedene is considering switching his allegiance back to Slovenia to try to compete in the Olympics.
The 27-year-old became a British citizen in 2015, just after rules came in barring players from representing two different nations.
Bedene and the Lawn Tennis Association have fought a two-year battle to try to overturn the ban but so far without success.
Speaking after a 6-4, 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Ryan Harrison in the first round of the French Open yesterday, Bedene said: “At the moment I’m representing Great Britain, but I do want to play Olympic Games. That’s, I think, a dream for every athlete.i’llhavetoseeonthatwhat can be done. I don’t know what the rules are.”
Having spent significant time and money on trying to persuade the International Tennis Federation to allow Bedene to play for Britain in Davis Cup, the LTA is likely to be very unimpressed by his comments.
The governing body had still been intending to pursue further avenues but will surely now be thinking twice, while Bedene’s case has probably also not been helped by him basing himself back in Slovenia with fiancee Kimalie, a singer.
He said: “I still have a house in England, in Welwyn. At the moment for the clay season, I spend quite a lot of time in Slovenia. My fiancee said she wants to move back. She wants to have her career there. I’m travelling a lot, so it’s not easy. But I do want to spend as much time as I can with her. But I’ve still got a house there [in England]. My home is still there.
“I have always been known as Slovenian-born. But I love Britain. I have spent quite a lot of time there. I’m enjoying it there.
“I can’t wait for the grass season to start. I feel Slovenian and British.”
Even if Bedene did decide to switch back to Slovenia, it would not necessarily be straightforward for him to play in the Olympics.
He would need to build bridges with the Slovenian tennis federation, who were very unhappy with his defection and have been a thorn in his side during his various appeals.
To compete in the Olympics, a player needs to have made himself available for Davis Cup and be in good standing with his federation.
The Tokyo Games in 2020 could well be Bedene’s last chance, and he would need to move fairly swiftly if he was to fulfil those criteria.
No one from the LTA was available for comment.