subject: Tennis: Federer gets top seeding at Wimbledon [print this page] Tennis: Federer gets top seeding at Wimbledon
Reigning Wimbledon champion Roger Federer will be the top seed at the grass court grand slam despite losing the world number one spot to Rafael Nadal.
Federer was passed by Nadal in the world rankings after the Spaniard won the French Open earlier this month.
But Federer has won Wimbledon six times, including his dramatic final victory over Andy Roddick last year, so All England Club chiefs have decided to install the Swiss star as their number one seed ahead of Nadal.
Nadal, who was last year unable to defend the Wimbledon title he won in 2008 because of injury, is the second seed, while Novak Djokovic is the third seed and Britain's Andy Murray the fourth.
"I will enjoy it from a distance" Roger Federer told German Press Agency dpa. "It falls right between Roland Garros and Wimbledon".
Three-time Wimbledon runner-up Roddick moves up to fifth seed due to his fine record on grass despite being ranked seventh in the world.
Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, currently ranked 26 in the world, also receives a significant rise to the 15th seed spot after beating Federer on grass in the Halle final on Sunday.
World number eight Juan Martin Del Potro will miss the tournament because of a wrist injury so Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga move up a place each in the top 10.
Juan Carlos Ferrero at 14 and Croatia's Ivo Karlovic at 25 are also seeded higher than their rankings in recognition of their achievement in reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year.
Meanwhile, American Sam Querrey's victory at Queen's Club on Sunday has earned him the 18th seed slot, up from his world ranking of 21.
In the women's singles, defending champion and world number one Serena Williams is the top seed, with her sister Venus Williams the number two seed.
With world number five Elena Dementieva out due to injury, Caroline Wozniacki is seeded third, Jelena Jankovic fourth and French Open champion Francesca Schiavone fifth.
Belgian duo Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin are eighth and 17th respectively, while former champion Maria Sharapova is at 16.
