Aljaz Bedene couldn’t make it a winning British men’s hat-trick as Viktor Troicki’s experience proved decisive but he vowed to make the home crowd fall in love with him at Wimbledon next year.
The British number two’s hopes of following James Ward and Andy Murray into the third round were dashed as the sharp-serving Serb triumphed 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
But the Slovenian-born 26-year-old, who was awarded a passport in March, believes his first Wimbledon representing his adopted country will spur him on to better things.
Troicki, seeded 24 at the All England Club, had too much power on Court 12 but Bedene claimed he was already looking forward to having the home supporters behind him again.
“I loved the whole Wimbledon experience, next year is going to be a different story – I will be a different person, I will make sure the British public get to know me a little bit more. I want them to get to love me,” he said
“It will take time but hopefully next year I can have another chance and maybe get on one of the bigger courts, that is a big goal of mine.
“I didn’t feel the pressure of Andy and James winning earlier, I am happy for them, especially James who has done very well. It’s a pity for me as I was loving being a part of it but next year I think you will see something different.
“I started really well but I begun rushing into a few points and that was my downfall. I will watch it again in the next few days and find out where the problems were. But it was very tight, it’s a shame as I really wanted to get through.
“He served as well as I have seen him. I made too many mistakes, too many errors. I have to learn something from it and I’m sure I will.”
