Week 19 - ATP 1000 - Mutua Madrid Open - Spain (clay)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

RE: Week 19 - ATP 1000 - Mutua Madrid Open - Spain (clay)

Vandenburg · Futures level

Stircrazy wrote:
Dan's stirring it again - from the Beeb's rolling sports news page:
Forthright views from Dan Evans following his Madrid Open defeat by Robin Haase.
When reminded by BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller that he was the British number four, Evans asked: "Fourth?" and when told it was behind Slovenia-born Aljaz Bedene, who became a British citizen in March 2015, he added: "Oh, so I'm third."
'I don't think he really believes he's British'
Posted at 14:38
More from Dan Evans, explaining his stance on Slovenia-born Aljaz Bedene, who was granted British citizenship in March 2015.
"It's nothing to do with Aljaz - I like him, he's not confrontational in any way but to me it doesn't sit well if you play for another country," Evans told BBC Sport after his defeat at the Madrid Open today.
"I don't feel bad about him, but for me it's a bit baffling as to why. And now he lives in Slovenia as well - I don't think he really believes he's British either. It's just the citizenship rule, where he's lived here for five years. It's just a bit different, isn't it?"
Not sure that last bit makes complete sense! And according to the ATP, Aljaz still lives in London.

Agree with Evo, but if I was him I would not be saying it etc. If someone won a Olympic medal as independent person, rather than GBR, would you cheer them on. He has a gb passport, as did Dustin Brown and James Blake, but he does not have the right to represent GBR. I wish to stop following his results and stop reporting on them in the forum please.

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh Dan

Though does look as if Mr Fuller may have been stirring the pot a bit, having seemingly quite enjoyed having riled Dan on twitter on the subject before.

scottie1 · Futures level

indiana wrote:
Oh Dan

Though does look as if Mr Fuller may have been stirring the pot a bit, having seemingly quite enjoyed having riled Dan on twitter on the subject before.

Dan needs to zip it and get on with the tennis! Bedene has a British passport so I will support him. Konta is actually Australian but has a British passport I support her I don't see the difference

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Oh Dan

Though does look as if Mr Fuller may have been stirring the pot a bit, having seemingly quite enjoyed having riled Dan on twitter on the subject before.

Yes, that's Fuller being a bit below the belt, really.

Knowing full well that Dan often speaks without thinking, and he's just lost a match and will be feeling a bit peeved in general.

Try hard to be a more responsible and insightful journalist, Mr Fuller.

skibbarriz · Strong Club Player

I saw that and thought of here. Well, that makes that one clear. The tennis world is political and I'm sure there are plenty players with views on a range of topics that they think are best kept to themselves. I fear Dan says things that will make people turn against him.

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

Oh dear, Dan starting to sound more and more like a Kipper. Dan just needs to get over his little Englander mentality and focus on his own career, it is not as though Aljaz has in way harmed or impacted him by switching nationality and it just comes off as terribly small minded and xenophobic.

For the record Aljaz has been living in the UK for over 10 years and those that know him well have no doubt that his desire to become a citizen and represent the country was genuine and I feel for him in his situation. It does appear Dan is in the minority amongst British players so I am thankful for that, hopefully he learns to shut up and let his tennis do the talking.

Vandy, you can do what you want. Nobody forces you to read Aljaz's results so don't if they offend you. I am not too interested in the results of some of the players that others follow here but I would not dream of demanding others stop talking about them just because it does not interest me. Shocking as you may find this, yours is not the only opinion that matters.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

theemptyvessel wrote:
Oh dear, Dan starting to sound more and more like a Kipper. Dan just needs to get over his little Englander mentality and focus on his own career, it is not as though Aljaz has in way harmed or impacted him by switching nationality and it just comes off as terribly small minded and xenophobic.

For the record Aljaz has been living in the UK for over 10 years and those that know him well have no doubt that his desire to become a citizen and represent the country was genuine and I feel for him in his situation. It does appear Dan is in the minority amongst British players so I am thankful for that, hopefully he learns to shut up and let his tennis do the talking.

Vandy, you can do what you want. Nobody forces you to read Aljaz's results so don't if they offend you. I am not too interested in the results of some of the players that others follow here but I would not dream of demanding others stop talking about them just because it does not interest me. Shocking as you may find this, yours is not the only opinion that matters.

Yes, well said.

I find it strange that Dan does not realise how anti-British and unpatriotic he sounds.

After all, if you are pro-Britain and 'love your country', then you surely respect/love your government, (or at least your system of government) and your laws.

And it is our laws that says Bedene is British.

And not because of some Zola Budd rush-job, but just by following due process.

The Davis Cup is a special situation. The Olympic Committee will say differently. Each body can have different rules for its own specific eligibility.

But Bedene being the third best-ranked British player is just a fact, and to dispute it is to stick two fingers up at the laws of your country.

JonH · All-time great

theemptyvessel wrote:
Oh dear, Dan starting to sound more and more like a Kipper. Dan just needs to get over his little Englander mentality and focus on his own career, it is not as though Aljaz has in way harmed or impacted him by switching nationality and it just comes off as terribly small minded and xenophobic.

For the record Aljaz has been living in the UK for over 10 years and those that know him well have no doubt that his desire to become a citizen and represent the country was genuine and I feel for him in his situation. It does appear Dan is in the minority amongst British players so I am thankful for that, hopefully he learns to shut up and let his tennis do the talking.

Vandy, you can do what you want. Nobody forces you to read Aljaz's results so don't if they offend you. I am not too interested in the results of some of the players that others follow here but I would not dream of demanding others stop talking about them just because it does not interest me. Shocking as you may find this, yours is not the only opinion that matters.

Agree totally - I have a close friend and colleague who is Mexican by birth , been in the UK for 7 years and built his career and life here. Sounds v similar to Aljaz. My pal is now a UK citizen, went through his ceremony a few months back. He is v proud to be British and v proud to be Mexican and I think should be applauded for his commitment to the UK and also for his birth heritage. He has paid taxes here for many years, contributes in many ways, owns a house and is marrying a British girl later this year. Is he Mexican still - yes, always will be. is he British also - yes, very much so and I am proud he is my friend.

Similarly I am proud Aljaz wants to build his life here and well done to him being the GB #3.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

And back to the tennis... A couple of rum results today: Nicolas Mahut has just beaten Jack Sock (14) by 6-4 0-6 7-6(4), while Gilou saw off Gaël Monfils (15) by 0-6 6-0 7-6(0).

JonH · All-time great

Clearly jack Sock isnt the best in the world then! (see Remarkable non GB Performances thread !)

JonH · All-time great

Stircrazy wrote:
L32: (1) Andy Murray WR 1 vs (WC) Marius Copil (ROU) WR 104 (= CH)
Copil's match with GGL last for two hours & 52 mintues, finishing 7-6(9) in the decider!

Andy on main show court third up tomorrow

JonH · All-time great

JonH wrote:
theemptyvessel wrote:
Oh dear, Dan starting to sound more and more like a Kipper. Dan just needs to get over his little Englander mentality and focus on his own career, it is not as though Aljaz has in way harmed or impacted him by switching nationality and it just comes off as terribly small minded and xenophobic.

For the record Aljaz has been living in the UK for over 10 years and those that know him well have no doubt that his desire to become a citizen and represent the country was genuine and I feel for him in his situation. It does appear Dan is in the minority amongst British players so I am thankful for that, hopefully he learns to shut up and let his tennis do the talking.

Vandy, you can do what you want. Nobody forces you to read Aljaz's results so don't if they offend you. I am not too interested in the results of some of the players that others follow here but I would not dream of demanding others stop talking about them just because it does not interest me. Shocking as you may find this, yours is not the only opinion that matters.
Agree totally - I have a close friend and colleague who is Mexican by birth , been in the UK for 7 years and built his career and life here. Sounds v similar to Aljaz. My pal is now a UK citizen, went through his ceremony a few months back. He is v proud to be British and v proud to be Mexican and I think should be applauded for his commitment to the UK and also for his birth heritage. He has paid taxes here for many years, contributes in many ways, owns a house and is marrying a British girl later this year. Is he Mexican still - yes, always will be. is he British also - yes, very much so and I am proud he is my friend.
Similarly I am proud Aljaz wants to build his life here and well done to him being the GB #3.

a bit more granularity on the issue. Seems Dan has some bigger issues with the LTA causing this.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-4485072/Dan-Evans-hits-Aljaz-Bedene-s-British-credentials.html

Interesting the Sun is being held up as a test of Britishness !!

Samson · Lower Club Player

Those comment from Dan are a bit... old fashioned and, as far as I'm concerned, unnecessary. I do hope that he engages in debate from those who don't agree with him at least. His views deserve to be challenged.

Spectator · All-time great

Coup Droit wrote:
indiana wrote:
Oh Dan

Though does look as if Mr Fuller may have been stirring the pot a bit, having seemingly quite enjoyed having riled Dan on twitter on the subject before.

Yes, that's Fuller being a bit below the belt, really.
Knowing full well that Dan often speaks without thinking, and he's just lost a match and will be feeling a bit peeved in general.
Try hard to be a more responsible and insightful journalist, Mr Fuller.

Indeed. I am thinking less well of Mr Fuller by the day. That's just not a good thing to do. Dan Evans' response to his comment (given earlier exchange) was entirely predictable, and the whole thing does nobody any service: not Mr Bedene, not Mr Evans, and, indeed, not Mr Fuller.

As for the 'the LTA tweets about him, but not me' argument, it is, quite frankly, inaccurate - and easily disproved. I just checked tweets from after the Davis Cup to now (ie not including the Davis Cup, where Dan Evans would have had numerous mentions). In a quick survey, nine mentioned Mr Bedene; eleven or twelve (depending on how you count) Mr Evans. There may have been one or two I missed ... but the general point is clear. And that, as I say, doesn't include the Davis Cup or the build-up to it.