Aljaz Bedene

huntley93 · Strong Club Player

RE: Aljaz Bedene

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Well, I hope he gets approved:

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/34790346

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Un-bloody-believable (not so much his continued ineligibility as the unconscionable amount of time it's taking to get a decision out of the ITF "suits")! disbelief From the Beeb's rolling sports news page:

Some news to bring you from the world of tennis... British number two Aljaz Bedene will not be eligible to represent Great Britain in the Davis Cup final against Belgium next week because the ITF have adjourned his case until March.

The 26-year-old played in the Davis Cup for Slovenia three times before gaining UK citizenship in March.

I wonder why the further delay? Andy certainly sympathises with his predicament, if today's papers (specifically The Times) are to be believed (he apparently practised with him on clay at Queen's for four days last week):

"My view is that the process has taken such a long time that it is awkward timing. Everyone thinks that. If this decision [had been] made seven months ago, we wouldn't even have been having this discussion. [It] isn't Aljaz's fault that it's taken such a long time. It's also not his fault that it's ten days before the Davis Cup final. If he wins his appeal and is able to play, then if I'm the captain, I'm picking my strongest team to try to win."

My bold - speaks volumes...

wolf · Tennis legend

I wonder what the situation is in regards to playing in the Olympic Games.

philwrig · Hall of fame

At least it clears up the tough decision Leon has to make, not ideal, but in someways as long as Bedene can eventually win his appeal, the best outcome for everybody.

indiana · Tennis legend

Very interesting from Andy ( of course irrelevant for the final now ), although surprised he put it out there so publicly, especially since it might not ( and has not ) become a choice.

While I certainly sympathise with Aljaz, if he'd won the appeal it is one of the few situations I wouldn't necessarily have gone with the strongest team ( if Aljaz was considered to be part of that strongest team ).

Although not his fault, if he had won his appeal, I would welcome him for 2016, but stick with these who have been eligible through the year for the final.

I appreciate and understand these who would have considered him, just not for me.

Irrelevant now anyway ...

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 17th of November 2015 03:35:18 PM

Jan · Hall of fame

You would think they'd had plenty long enough to consider everyone's point of view and reach a decision.

RJA · Hall of fame

Stircrazy wrote:
Un-bloody-believable (not so much his continued ineligibility as the unconscionable amount of time it's taking to get a decision out of the ITF "suits")

Well the ITF will probably point put that there has already been a decision made, an appeal heard and a decision to reject that appeal. I have always considered it unlikely that the ITF would overturn the decision of the Davis Cup authorities whose decisions clearly seem to be in line with the the new rule.

Spectator · All-time great

The proximity to the Davis Cup final can't have helped; strongly suspect that they wouldn't want to make a decision that could affect such an important match. The fact that they postponed may actually point to a chance that they're considering allowing his appeal. It is a bit of a one-off; there won't be people in the future who can claim the same precedent.

Do hope they let him play; this was clearly on the cards for a long time and had a good reason behind it. Bit rough on him to get caught by a rule change when he's already in process ... especially because it also affects his Olympics chances.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Utterly ridiculous. Why do they have to wait until the next board meeting to announce a decision. If they don't want to disrupt matters just before the show piece final, then fair enough. But how hard would it be to say, "Thank you all for presenting your evidence today. A decision will be made and announced by the end of the year". That way, at least everyone would know where they stand for the start of next season.

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

Bob in Spain wrote:
Utterly ridiculous. Why do they have to wait until the next board meeting to announce a decision. If they don't want to disrupt matters just before the show piece final, then fair enough. But how hard would it be to say, "Thank you all for presenting your evidence today. A decision will be made and announced by the end of the year". That way, at least everyone would know where they stand for the start of next season.

Completely agree with this. As things stand he now won't get an answer until after the first DC cup tie next year and we know that with Murray Jr. on the way the chances of Andy playing are virtually nil. Fair enough to defer the decision until this years competition is over but he deserves a response after waiting as long as he has to make his case.

EddietheEagle · County player

Looks like the LTA shot itself in the foot through its late submission of a 70 page supporting document. This gave the ITF the excuse they were looking for (according to the Guardian's account) to defer the hearing until long after the final.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/17/aljaz-bedene-davis-cup-appeal-adjourned

The LTA boasts over 300 employees and a chief exec. trousering £400,000 a year and yet they can't get a document together in timely fashion! Sounds like they were all too busy polishing up the blazer buttons and organising their wives' shopping trips in Ghent.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

EddietheEagle wrote:
Looks like the LTA shot itself in the foot through its late submission of a 70 page supporting document. This gave the ITF the excuse they were looking for (according to the Guardian's account) to defer the hearing until long after the final.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/17/aljaz-bedene-davis-cup-appeal-adjourned

The LTA boasts over 300 employees and a chief exec. trousering £400,000 a year and yet they can't get a document together in timely fashion! Sounds like they were all too busy polishing up the blazer buttons and organising their wives' shopping trips in Ghent.

Heads should roll.

Otto · Social player

EddietheEagle wrote:
Looks like the LTA shot itself in the foot through its late submission of a 70 page supporting document. This gave the ITF the excuse they were looking for (according to the Guardian's account) to defer the hearing until long after the final.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/17/aljaz-bedene-davis-cup-appeal-adjourned

The LTA boasts over 300 employees and a chief exec. trousering £400,000 a year and yet they can't get a document together in timely fashion! Sounds like they were all too busy polishing up the blazer buttons and organising their wives' shopping trips in Ghent.

If I were cynical, I would think that producing a 70 page document 'just before' a half hour hearing was not so much incompetent, but a bit suspicious.

EddietheEagle · County player

It smacks of deliberate suicide, doesn't it? A convenient outcome for all concerned. They know an eleventh hour submission would conflict with due process requirements.

Either way, everyone's keeping mum and the public - the little people - get taken for fools. I liken this to Wimbledon/ITF going along with, if not suggesting, Marin Cilic's concoction about his hasty retreat from Wimbledon being down to a knee injury rather than admit to a suspension for doping.

I hope some enterprising journalist will work it all out.