Jamie Murray, the elder brother of two-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray, has opened his arms to Slovenian-born Aljaz Bedene for a possible inclusion in the British team who will play against Belgium in the Davis Cup Final in Ghent. Jamie Murray made a winning start to the ATP Finals doubles tournament yesterday when he and Australian player Jonathan Peers beat Italian stars Fabio Fognin and Simone Bolelli (this year’s Australian Open doubles champions) 7-6 3-6 11-9 after the super tie-break. Murray and Peers are playing their last doubles tournament as a team before splitting up.
Bedene, who is currently ranked World Number 45 and is the second highest British player, will be in Prague on Tuesday to appeal against an International Tennis Federation that prevents him from representing his adoptive country in the Davis Cup.
“If the International Tennis Federation hadn’t changed the rule last November, Bedene would have been available to play all the matches this year. He has been living in the UK for five or six years now. I hope for his sake that he is eligible to play. He has done the right process, cleared all the obstacles that needed to be cleared. They decided to change the rules a couple of months before he is able to participate in the Davis Cup. If he gets the green light and does get selected, I would welcome him with open arms. I am sure he will be a valued member of the team”, said Jamie Murray.
Kyle Edmund has boosted his chances to become the second singles player after his 6-0 6-4 win over Argentina’s Carlos Berloq in the final of the Buenos Aires ATP Challenger Tournament.
