The International Tennis Federation has delayed its decision on whether to allow Aljaz Bedene to represent Great Britain in the Davis Cup, meaning that he will not be able to feature in this month's final against Belgium.
Bedene, who is ranked 45th in the world, is currently ineligible to play for his adopted country because of a change in the rules in January barring players from competing for two different nations.
The 26-year-old has previously featured three times for his native Slovenia.
"The ITF has taken this decision in order to ensure that the rights of all parties are considered," read a statement that said Bedene's case would be reconsidered next year. "As the application has yet to be decided, the ITF will not provide any further comment on the case."
The Lawn Tennis Association quickly responded with a statement of their own and said that they hoped the issue would be resolved by the first round of Davis Cup fixtures in March next year.
"The LTA 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 the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas," read the statement.
"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."
The five-man squad for the final against Belgium in Ghent was announced earlier today, with Kyle Edmund (ranked 99th) and James Ward (155th) battling it out to be the second singles player behind world number two Andy Murray.
Pascal Lemesre
