Aljaž Bedene
 |
|
| Country (sports) |
 Great Britain (2015–) Slovenia (2008–15)
|
|---|---|
| Residence | Welwyn Garden City, UK |
| Born |
18 July 1989 Ljubljana, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Turned pro | 2008 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Coach(es) | Igor Rorič Dirk Hordorff Claudio Pistolesi James Davidson (2014–2016) Leon Smith (2016) Nick Cavaday (2016-present) |
| Prize money | $1,706,158 |
| Official website | aljazbedene.si/en/ |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 54–73 |
| Career titles | 0 11 Challenger, 5 Futures |
| Highest ranking | No. 45 (16 November 2015) |
| Current ranking | No. 102 (20 February 2017) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) |
| French Open | 3R (2016) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2015) |
| US Open | 2R (2015) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 13–27 |
| Career titles | 0 1 Challenger, 2 Futures |
| Highest ranking | No. 127 (7 October 2013) |
| Current ranking | No. 238 (20 February 2017) |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2016) |
| French Open | 2R (2013) |
| Wimbledon | 1R (2013, 2015) |
| US Open | 1R (2015) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | 2–1 (singles) |
| Last updated on: 22 February 2017. | |
Aljaž Bedene (born 18 July 1989) is a British tennis player who represented Slovenia until 2015. He is the current British No 4.
He has won five Futures and nine Challenger singles titles. In doubles he has won one Challenger title and two Futures titles. His highest ranking is No. 45 in singles (achieved on 16 November 2015), and No. 127 in doubles (achieved on 7 October 2015).
He represented Slovenia when he turned pro in 2008. On 31 March 2015, Bedene was granted UK citizenship and now represents Great Britain, but the International Tennis Federation has rejected his application to represent Great Britain in the Davis Cup as he had previously played three dead rubbers for Slovenia. Bedene is considering whether to take further steps.
Bedene's father, Branko, is a dental industry worker and his mother is Darlen. Their house in Ljubljana overlooks hills, vineyards and forests of the Lower Carniola area. Alijaz and his younger twin brother, Andraz used to compete for Slovenia’s top tennis honours, virtually from the days they first picked up plastic rackets in the family living room and used Branko’s briefcase as a net. The two top seeds would meet regularly in competition finals. Their father struggled to tell them apart to such an extent he called them both Andraljaz. His nickname is Ali or Benke, and he speaks English, Slovenian and Croatian. Andraz Bedene is a former ATP tour player.
Then in 2008, Aljaz made the decision to pursue his tennis career in England because he felt it was stagnating under the artificial limitations he encountered in Slovenia. He ended a seven-year wait to become a British citizen on March 31, 2015, and immediately became British no. 2 behind Andy Murray.
Aljaz has lived in Welwyn Garden City since 2008 with his girlfriend, pop star Kimalie, formerly part of the Slovenian group “Foxy Teens”. The pair have become protégés of Hertfordshire tennis captain Jeff Wayne, the composer of “War of the Worlds”. Bedene is based at the Global Tennis Connections Academy in Gosling.
Instead of tennis, Bedene could have been a ski-jumper, and was jumping off the 60m run within weeks of taking up the sport. Bedene supports Chelsea F.C.,Real Madrid C.F. and basketball team Union Olimpija.
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