30 May, 2017
His problem is that he can not participate in the 2020 Olympics without making himself available for the Davis Cup - a competition in which he has been barred from representing Great Britain. He actually came back strong after that second set, which I think he gave it away too easily. But, you know, I want to focus on myself now, more importantly.
Even if Bedene did decide to switch back to Slovenia, it would not necessarily be straightforward for him to play in the Olympics.
"And, yeah, that time after March, I basically started to play different tennis. I like him, he's not confrontational in any way-but to me it doesn't sit well if you play for another country". "I still feel Slovenian and British".
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. I haven't checked. I guess that means playing for the Davis Cup for them as well. "But I want to focus on myself now". But if it's next year, then next year.
He handled Evans' somewhat jingoistic tweets and comments with good grace, but there was more than a hint of poignancy to one of his replies.
He had far too much clay-court nous for American Harrison, who is ranked 10 places higher but struggled with the heat and his opponent's play.
Bedene broke Harrison's first and last service games of the first set, before a stunning whitewash within just 18 minutes put him two sets ahead. But, once Bedene had forged ahead in the fourth, there was only one victor. As well as three Challenger titles, he reached the final in Budapest to set a run of 20 wins in 21 matches. The third set wasn't the best. The first set was tougher than expected.
Bedene's reveal that he could try to represent Slovenia at Tokyo 2020 rather overshadowed his impressively brisk 6-4 6-0 3-6 6-1 first round win over the American Ryan Harrison. "Second set I played really well".
And now Bedene - who divides his time between Slovenia and a house in Welling - has opened the door to the possibility of playing for his home country again, because he wants to play at an Olympic Games before he retires. I think Vesely is really fit.
"I think he's a great player". I lost on clay. He has a great serve and doesn't miss from the back.
And while refusing to select him could be overcome, provided he proved he was available for matches, the "good standing" stipulation would be a matter for the ITF Olympic Committee.
