Aljaz Bedene omitted from Great Britain Davis Cup final team to face Belgium

Great Britain have left Aljaz Bedene out of their provisional Davis Cup final team to face Belgium, ahead of the 25-year-old's appeal over his non-eligibility. The world number 45, who gained UK citizenship in March, has represented Slovania three times in the Davis Cup and is therefore banned from playing in the final or any future tie.

Bedene will have his appeal against the ruling heard by the International Tennis Federation on Tuesday (17 November) and could yet be included in the squad selected by Leon Smith should the decision go in his favour. Captain Leon Smith has meanwhile omitted the right-hander from the five-man team, with Kyle Edmund and James Ward both selected to support Andy Murray, Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot.

Edmund triumphed at the Buenos Aires Challenger on clay – the same surface that the final at Ghent's Flanders Expo will be played on 27-29 November – over the weekend, while Ward is in similarly impressive form having won the Bangalore Challenger in October. Dan Evans had staked a claim by winning the hard-court Knoxville Challenger in Tennessee and could yet feature, after being a late call-up for the semi-final win over Australia.

"Our GB Davis Cup team is proud to be competing in the final in Ghent this year," said Smith, who will complete his team, which could yet include Bedene and Evans, next week. "It is a historic ‎moment in British tennis and I'm delighted to name these five players for the tie against Belgium.

"The team has had some incredible results this year, and we know that off the back of defeating the three other Grand Slam nations we carry great momentum going into the final, however we will ‎not underestimate the challenge in front of us. The Belgian team is full of top 100 talent and they will push us all the way.

"The support from our fans has been unbelievable. There is no other word for it. For those making the trip to Belgium it will be more important than ever that they make as much noise as possible and get behind the team."