Davis Cup final in Belgium to go ahead as planned despite terrorist attack threat... but Aljaz Bedene misses out on showpiece
- Davis Cup final between Belgium and Great Britain will take place in Ghent
- Match between Belgium and Spain scheduled for Tuesday was cancelled
- Fears over terrorist attack in Belgium caused match to be postponed
- Slovenia-born Brit Aljaz Bedene will miss the final
- An ITF hearing into his eligibility to play was deferred until March
The Davis Cup final between Belgium and Great Britain is set to go ahead next week despite security fears – but Aljaz Bedene will not be part of the visiting team.
The decision on whether to allow Slovenia-born Bedene has been deferred for several months to allow further examination of the issue.
An International Tennis Federation hearing was held on Tuesday morning in Prague, personally attended by Bedene with a Lawn Tennis Association lawyer, but there was no conclusive outcome, and therefore he will not be eligible for consideration until 2016 at the earliest.
Tennis star Andy Murray (pictured) and his British team-mates will play against Belgium in Ghent
The Davis Cup final in November will be contested in the main hall of the Flanders Expo centre in Ghent
Bedene became a British citizen in April after living in the UK since 2008, but played two dead rubbers for Slovenia and was appealing against a rule introduced this year banning anyone from ever representing two different countries.
Meanwhile in the wake of the cancellation of Tuesday's football friendly between Belgium and Spain in Brussels, tennis officials moved to confirm that the Davis Cup final starting a week on Friday is set to go ahead, but with beefed up security.
A statement issued by the ITF and Belgian tennis authorities said: 'The ITF, Royal Belgian Tennis Federation (RBTF) and associated partners are continuing with preparations for the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final, with the emphasis on security operations.
'The ITF is aware of the cancellation of the Belgian versus Spain international friendly football match. The ITF understands that it was the Belgian FA that took this decision after consultation with the Belgian government. Other events in Ghent scheduled this week, including a cycling race and a large trade fair, are going ahead as planned.'
Aljaz Bedene (left) practised with Murray on the clay courts at London's Queen's Club last week
Great Britain captain Leon Smith named his initial squad of five for the Davis Cup final on Tuesday
While details of the hearing were still awaited there was a notable degree of irritation in a release from the Lawn Tennis Association. At present it is thought that they do not plan to stage a new hearing until March 2016.
'The Lawn Tennis Association is disappointed at the ITF's late decision today in Prague to postpone the hearing of our appeal for Aljaz Bedene to represent Great Britain in Davis Cup by BNP Paribas.
'We feel it is important to state that we have complied with the process set forth to us and are working hard to achieve a positive outcome.
'It is in everyone's best interests given how long this process has been ongoing, that a fair hearing does place as soon as possible, ideally before the first round of Davis Cup in March 2016. That has to be the number one priority going forward. We continue to fully support Aljaz in his bid for a successful appeal.'
Dominic Inglot has also been named in the squad of five as backup for the doubles rubber
But, contrary to the LTA's evident desire, the ITF issued a statement shortly afterwards saying that the next hearing will not take place until after next year's first round has taken place:
'The International Tennis Federation announced today that the application by the Lawn Tennis Association of Great Britain for the granting of eligibility for Aljaz Bedene to play Davis Cup by BNP Paribas was adjourned until the next ITF Board of Directors to be held on 20-21 March 2016.
'The ITF has taken this decision in order to ensure that the rights of all parties are considered,'
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