Bedene- I may switch back to Slovenia

Vandenburg · Futures level

Bedene- I may switch back to Slovenia

Owen42 · Social player

I have never had any interest in him.

thejester · Satellite level

I like the guy, and even if he does switch back I'll continue to follow his results with interest, and wish him well.

It has to be said that his preference (as he's said himself) is still to play DC and The Olympics for GB. I can, however, understand why he wants to experience the Tokyo games and understand why he would consider switching back to do so.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

I like Aljaz. I wish Dan, who I also like, hadn't opened his mouth and said all that stuff about him. He's also a great player and it will be our loss if he does switch back.

indiana · Tennis legend

I will certainly continue to follow "this dude" for now as a British tennis player, who has spent many years in this country and who has recently been playing very well. And I wouldn't totally lose interest if and when he did switch back

I would have thought as a British citizen he would qualify to play at the Olympics for GB. I wouldn't have thought that the ITF's rules for their competitions were relevant confuse

Edit: Ah, now that I read the Beeb article it says that a player must have been available to represent the country in Davis Cup. In thinking about it that actually ties in with with what I have heard previously about having to be available for Davis Cup. But there is a bit of a difference between not making oneself available for Davis Cup and not being allowed to play Davis Cup due to an already rather controversial ruling. A bit of a double whammy for the guy

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 29th of May 2017 08:21:36 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I would imagine Brexit is very relevant to Aljaz's thinking.....

indiana · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
I would imagine Brexit is very relevant to Aljaz's thinking.....

I'd say that Brexit could well be one of an increasing number of very relevant factors which added together would make any switch back a pity to many of us, but very understandable.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

He seems like a really nice guy, and whatever he decides I'll wish him the best. It would be a shame, but completely understandable that you'd want to play DC and the Olympics if you were good enough - which he obviously is.
I think he's stuck between a rock and a hard place really with the ITF changing their rules once he already committed to being British. Evo's comments probably haven't helped the situation, but then nor has Brexit. He's going to be criticized whatever he does, and the Slovenians probably aren't exactly going to welcome a defector with open arms.

Robin · Lower Club Player

Aljez seems like a great guy and to support him as many people support international sportspeople that's normal. As for supporting him as a British tennis player, I don't think that's credible now that he's ready to switch back to Slovenian nationality however understandable his reasons.

JonH · All-time great

Personally I would like to hear the interview if it is available - I wonder if the context behind this may have been taken out? Given all the trouble the LTA and Bedene have gone through, it struck me this could just be musing aloud and not really a serious proposition...but without the context and the actual words said it is hard to tell. If he did say these things as written, then disappointing to be honest and probably going to upset a few folks. Take away that Queens wild card - oh sorry, there wasnt one on offer, my bad!

Spectator · All-time great

As easily as quoting the bit that he could go back to Slovenia, you could quote the last sentences: ""I've still got a house in England. My home is still there. I have always been known as Slovenia-born - but I love Britain. I feel Slovenian and British."

The article seems to me to suggest a man who is being pulled in all directions - and the only course one can offer is sympathy, whatever he decides. The one thing I would say is that if he stays a GB player and the ITF doesn't make an exemption to allow him to play in the Olympics, it would be pretty rotten, since it's their wretched rule that has disqualified him, not his own actions. He could easily argue that he has done everything he could to make himself available for DC matches.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

JonH wrote:
Personally I would like to hear the interview if it is available - I wonder if the context behind this may have been taken out? Given all the trouble the LTA and Bedene have gone through, it struck me this could just be musing aloud and not really a serious proposition...but without the context and the actual words said it is hard to tell. If he did say these things as written, then disappointing to be honest and probably going to upset a few folks. Take away that Queens wild card - oh sorry, there wasnt one on offer, my bad!

Yes, there was, According to Stu Fraser in an article under the heading "Bedene ponders Slovenia return" in today's Times,

A wild card had been made available for him to play in the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club next month but he has opted to play in a tournament in Halle, Germany, instead.

Vandenburg · Futures level

This proves that Evo was right all along. Bedene should have said "I will never ever represent Slovenia again, I am British now and will fight for my adopted country"

I feel everyone on this site should issue Evo an apology.

DF · Tennis legend

Vandenburg wrote:
This proves that Evo was right all along. Bedene should have said "I will never ever represent Slovenia again, I am British now and will fight for my adopted country"

I feel everyone on this site should issue Evo an apology.

Why? The vast majority here disagree with you!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Spectator wrote:
As easily as quoting the bit that he could go back to Slovenia, you could quote the last sentences: ""I've still got a house in England. My home is still there. I have always been known as Slovenia-born - but I love Britain. I feel Slovenian and British."

The article seems to me to suggest a man who is being pulled in all directions - and the only course one can offer is sympathy, whatever he decides. The one thing I would say is that if he stays a GB player and the ITF doesn't make an exemption to allow him to play in the Olympics, it would be pretty rotten, since it's their wretched rule that has disqualified him, not his own actions. He could easily argue that he has done everything he could to make himself available for DC matches.

Exactly. Well quoted. I assume he will keep his British nationality whatever. It's an issue that a huge number of people have. The right to two passports/two nationalities. Whether to take them both, or not bother. A very large number of 'true' Brits are currently applying and taking out Irish/Italian/French nationality - whatever is available to them under the rules. At least Bedene truly has bases in and affinities to both countries. If he chooses to play his tennis under the Slovenian flag once again, for professional reasons, then it's understandable. His nationality(ies) though will not be affected.