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, 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’ll have to see on that what 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, who is a singer.
He said: “I still have a house in England, in Welwyn. At the moment for the clay season I spent 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 the UK). 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.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here