Bogdanovic pulls out of Davis Cup tie

BRITISH No2 Alex Bogdanovic has made himself unavailable for his country's Davis Cup tie against Turkey next month – Scottish coach Leon Smith's first as captain.

Speaking after he lost 6-4, 3-6, 4-6 in the first round of the Aegon Championships yesterday to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, Bogdanovic said he wanted to concentrate on improving his ranking by competing elsewhere. It is a decision which may have cost the 26-year-old Londoner a place at Wimbledon this year, and is likely to exacerbate his already difficult relationship with the Lawn Tennis Association.

Although ranked only behind Andy Murray in the UK, world No166 Bogdanovic has not been given a wildcard by the All England Club for Wimbledon, whereas GB No3 and world 254 Jamie Baker has received one. "Leon asked me in February, you know, like, 'I want you to play (in the Davis Cup]," Bogdanovic said. "I said I want to see what my ranking is at the time and I'm going to make a decision from there. He said 'Okay, we'll try and give you some wildcards to help you out.

"When I told him that I won't be playing for this tie, I need to get my ranking up, he was obviously disappointed with that. He said I wasn't going to get pretty much any wildcards, even though he doesn't make the decision for the All England Club. I said that's fine."

The club has been criticised over the past two or three years for persisting in giving Bogdanovic a wildcard despite his poor record: he has now competed at Wimbledon eight times and lost in the first round on every occasion. His Davis Cup record is little better – the one match he has won out of eight contested was a dead rubber.