Aljaz Bedene

philwrig · Hall of fame

RE: Aljaz Bedene

Floody78 · Junior player

Once he has met the qualifying criteria, the only thing that matters in my mind is if he feels British.

It is also true that only person who can answer that is Aljaz Bedene himself. I'll certainly (like most other posters on here, it seems) support him if he comes to play for us.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Just an interesting point, but apparently the website in Chennai had him down as Slovakian and he tweeted to say it's Slovenia not Slovakia.

indiana · Tennis legend

Aussie Open QR1 :

(q7) Aljaz Bedene (SLO) WR 116 vs Guido Andreozzi (ARG) WR 202

Wasn't that guy called Andreyank at the US Open ??

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Aljaz lost the first set 5-7, won the second 6-4 and is now 2-0 up in the third

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Bedene wins 5-7 6-4 6-2

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Well done, Brit-to-be.

Jan · Hall of fame

ah that's good - I had to go out about half way through the first set.

TMH · Futures qualifying

Sim wrote:
The main reason to have "rules" on Nationality in sports is to stop (or try and prevent) people changing nationality just to further their careers, and/or earn more money, or to allow richer countries to "poach" good players from poorer countries - Pacific Islanders playing rugby for New Zealand, Kenyan and Ethiopians athletes becoming citizens of Qatar spring to mind. Further back Zola Budd, and the rushed application to get her registered for the Olympics is another example.
Most sports have some rules which mean that you can not represent one country one year, change your citizenship and represent another country the next year.
So according to the current rules Aljaz can gain British citizenship and put GB after his name but not play in the Davis cup as he has already played for Slovenia. If he/GB appeals against the deadline that was imposed and wins the legal argument then that is fine otherwise he will have to live with the rules.
I don't buy the argument that he only played in a dead rubber - he played in the Davis cup. If a footballer plays for England in the last match of a World Cup qualifier when they are already through (or already out) he can't then play for Scotland (or Slovenia) just because the result was not important.
So if Aljaz has lived here for a number of years and decided he wants to stay here and become British then I will welcome him. The Davis cup rules are upto the ITF to define.

Interesting you use the football comparison with regards to the Davis Cup. I actually would consider being called up and then thrown into a dead rubber once all is over more equivalent to being called up, left on the bench for the qualifier and then only playing in the friendly.

Which, incidentally, doesn't count as having played a 'competitive' match (as Aljaz hasn't), and in football means a player is allowed to play for another country at a later date should the opportunity arise (assuming he hasn't played in a competitive match since).

But it's clearly a bit of a grey area and there really is no right or wrong opinion on the matter.

indiana · Tennis legend

Aussie Open QR2 - to be played on Friday :

(q7) Aljaz Bedene (SLO) WR 116 vs Tomislav Brkik (BIH) WR 246

indiana · Tennis legend

I don't know how the ITF rule is worded.

But if being a non playing member of another country's four man team doesn't count as representing them to my mind neither should just playing in a dead rubber(s).

I agree with TMH that it's more the football equivalent of playing in a friendly, whilst never selected for a meaningful competutive match.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Bedene is playing his second round match and is already 3-0 up

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Bedene is playing his second round match and is already 3-0 up

Scrub that! He took the first set by 6-0 & is *3-3 in the second...

Babfive · Pro player

Aljaz won 6-0 7-6 (2)

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

So now we can hope for two-and-a-half Brits to qualify!