Serena Williams given special seeding dispensation at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON has broken with tradition and elevated Serena Williams in a move widely regarded as commonsense despite player backlash.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 09, 2016 US player Serena Williams poses with the winner's trophy, the Venus Rosewater Dish, after her women's singles final victory over Germany's Angelique Kerber on the thirteenth day of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. Serena Williams will start her bid for an eighth Wimbledon title next week at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships. / AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

WIMBLEDON has broken with tradition and elevated Serena Williams in a move widely regarded as commonsense despite player backlash.

Anxious to avoid a repeat of the farcical situation at the French Open where unseeded Williams careered through the draw into the fourth round, Wimbledon promoted the seven-time champion into the seedings.

Chasing a record-equalling 24th major overall, Williams has been lifted from a world ranking of No 183 to the 25th seeding — one place lower than bitter archrival Maria Sharapova.

Contesting her first grand slam since becoming a mother in September, Williams was forced to withdraw from Roland Garros with a pectoral strain.

Serena Williams poses with the winner's trophy, the Venus Rosewater Dish, after her women's singles final victory over Germany's Angelique Kerber at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships. Picture: AFP

But not before her surge unbalanced the draw as she prematurely eliminated seeds, including Ash Barty.

Williams is now fully recovered and is considered a legitimate title threat.

Wimbledon officials said the “the seeding order follows the WTA ranking list, except where in the opinion of the Tennis Sub-Committee, a change is necessary to produce a balanced draw.”

The tournament seedings usually mirror the world rankings.

The decision to push Williams into the seedings at the expense of Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova — a move subtly foreshadowed this week by officials — has already triggered fierce debate.

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— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 25, 2018

"Yes Olympia, your dreams can come true too"

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Cibulkova, who is ranked No 32, is unhappy.

“Why should I not be seeded if I have the right to be?” she asked.

“It would be different if I was No 6 seed and they put me at No 10, you know.

“But it’s just not fair if there is a player (who misses out) and it’s me now. I have the right and I should be seeded.”

Briton Heather Watson said she would support a seeding in Williams’ situation, adding “Serena is the exception”.

But insisted no other returning mothers should receive the same kind of support.

“I don’t think you should have a protected ranking if you have a baby because it’s your choice to have that baby,” she said. “Injuries aren’t a choice.”

Daria Gavrilova was pushed down a spot from her world ranking of No 25 to accommodate Williams, but Barty’s 17th seeding reflects her ranking.

Roger Federer returns to the top of the Wimbledon draw despite losing the world No 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal Picture: AP

Simona Halep and Roger Federer are the top seeds.

Federer returns to the top of the draw despite losing the world No 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal on Monday under Wimbledon’s seeding formula, which takes into account grass court performances over the past two years.

The formula allowed Nick Kyrgios to rise from No 19 in the rankings to 16th seed.

Triple champion Novak Djokovic climbed from No 17 to 12th seed.

The tournament draw is held on Friday.

WIMBLEDON SEEDINGS

Men

1. Roger Federer

2. Rafael Nadal

3. Marin Cilic

4. Alexander Zverev

5. Juan Martin del Potro

6. Grigor Dimitrov

7. Dominic Thiem

8. Kevin Anderson

9. John Isner

10. David Goffin

11. Sam Querrey

12. Novak Djokovic

13. Milos Raonic

14. Roberto Bautista Agut

15. Diego Schwartzman

16. Nick Kyrgios

17. Borna Coric

18. Lucas Pouille

19. Jack Sock

20. Fabio Fognini

21. Pablo Carreno Busta

22. Kyle Edmund

23. Adrian Mannarino

24. Richard Gasquet

25. Kei Nishikori

26. Hyeon Chung

27. Philipp Kohlschreiber

28. Denis Shapovalov

29. Damir Dzumhur

30. Filip Krajinovic

31. Marco Cecchinato

32. Fernando Verdasco

Women

1. Simona Halep

2. Caroline Wozniacki

3. Garbine Muguruza

4. Sloane Stephens

5. Elina Svitolina

6. Caroline Garcia

7. Karolina Pliskova

8. Petra Kvitova

9. Venus Williams

10. Madison Keys

11. Angelique Kerber

12. Jelena Ostapenko

13. Julia Goerges

14. Daria Kasatkina

15. Elise Mertens

16. Coco Vandeweghe

17. Ashleigh Barty

18. Naomi Osaka

19. Magdalena Rybarikova

20. Kiki Bertens

21. Anastasija Sevastova

22. Johanna Konta

23. Barbora Strycova

24. Maria Sharapova

25. Serena Williams

26. Daria Gavrilova

27. Carla Suarez Navarro

28. Anett Kontaveit

29. Mihaela Buzarnescu

30. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

31. Shuai Zhang

32. Agnieszka Radwanska

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