Serena Williams could get Wimbledon seeding, despite French Open snub | Tennis News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Serena Williams could get Wimbledon seeding, despite French Open snub

Reuters | ByReuters
May 22, 2018 06:17 PM IST

Serena Williams, who will not be seeded at French Open after her ranking plummeted to 453, could get a seeding at Wimbledon to produce a fair and a balanced draw.

Serena Williams will almost certainly be seeded at this year’s Wimbledon championships despite being snubbed by French Open organisers, the All England Club confirmed on Tuesday.

Serena Williams has not played a tournament since March.(REUTERS)
Serena Williams has not played a tournament since March.(REUTERS)

The American is expected to play at Roland Garros next week, where she has won the title three times, but without being seeded she could conceivably meet reigning champion Jelena Ostapenko in the first round.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) confirmed on Tuesday that its seedings would be based on the latest WTA rankings.

Williams, who has won 23 grand slam singles titles, is world ranked a lowly 453rd having returned this year from having a baby.

She has not played a tournament since Miami in March and pulled out of the claycourt events in Madrid and Rome.

READ | Serena Williams to miss out on seeding as French Open follows rankings

While the French Open sticks rigidly to rankings, Wimbledon’s seeding committee allows itself some “wiggle room” according to an All England Club official.

Unlike the men’s seedings which use the ATP rankings in conjunction with a formula based on results on grasscourts, the women’s seedings can be tweaked on the agreement of a committee.

“The seeding order follows the WTA ranking list, except where in the opinion of the committee, a change is necessary to produce a balanced draw,” is the All England Club’s official line on it’s website.

Williams has won Wimbledon six times but missed last year’s tournament while she was on maternity leave.

She gave birth to daughter Alexis last September.

Despite her lowly ranking she will be able to play at Roland Garros under the WTA’s special ranking rule, which allows players returning from a long spells out to use their ranking at the start of their absence.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On