Levine drops US to represent Canada

MONTREAL (AFP) –

Jesse Levine, pictured on September 21, 2012, will represent his native Canada and no longer compete for the United States, Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday.

Jesse Levine, ranked 104th on the ATP Tour, will represent his native Canada and no longer compete for the United States, Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old left-hander was born in Ottawa and spent the first 13 years of his life growing up in Canada’s capital city before moving with his family to Florida.

Levine reached a career-high of 69th in the rankings last October and has won 25 ATP matches, seven of them in Grand Slam events. His lone ATP final came in doubles with Ryan Sweeting in 2009 on clay at Houston.

“We are pleased that Jesse has decided to play for Canada,” Tennis Canada president Michael Downey said. “We believe he can strengthen our Davis Cup team and add depth to our roster when he is eligible to play.”

It was not certain whether or not the International Tennis Federation would approve the nationality switch in time for Levine to represent Canada in the first-round Davis Cup tie against Spain in February at Vancouver.

Levine woukld become the No. 2 Canadian in the world rankings behind No. 13 Milos Raonic.