Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Violence widens ahead of Greek austerity vote

Nadal and Federer seeded 1-2 for Wimbledon

Stars played memorable final in last year's tournament

Video
Spain's Rafael Nadal (R) is congratulate
  Roger and Rafa rematch?
June 16: As long as Rafael Nadal's knee is okay, a rematch between Roger Federer and Nadal at this year's Wimbledon seems likely.

WIMBLEDON, England - Defending champion Rafael Nadal and top-ranked women’s player Dinara Safina were seeded No. 1 for Wimbledon on Wednesday.

There were no big surprises when the All England Club announced the seedings for the grass-court Grand Slam tournament, which opens Monday. The draw will be released Friday.

The top-ranked Nadal has been having trouble with his knees the past few months and received treatment after pulling out of the Wimbledon warm-up event at Queen’s Club.

The Spaniard plans to test them by playing exhibition matches on grass against Lleyton Hewitt on Thursday and Stanislas Wawrinka on Friday at the Hurlingham Club in London.

Wimbledon stuck closely to the world rankings in determining the seeding lists for the two-week tournament.

The top six spots in the men’s list follow the rankings. Five-time champion Roger Federer is No. 2, with Andy Murray at No. 3. Murray won his first grass-court title at Queen’s Club on Sunday, becoming the first Briton to win the tournament since Bunny Austin in 1938, who then went on to become the last British men’s finalist at Wimbledon.

They are followed by No. 4 Novak Djokovic, No. 5 Juan Martin Del Porto and No. 6 Andy Roddick. Eighth-ranked Fernando Verdasco is seeded No. 7 ahead of Gilles Simon.

Marat Safin, a semifinalist last year, is the No. 15 seed despite being ranked 23rd, while the big-serving Ivo Karlovic is at No. 23 while having a ranking of 31.

Among the women, Safina of Russia is followed by Serena Williams and defending champion Venus Williams.

The only major change from the rankings is 2004 Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova as the No. 24 seed despite being ranked 59th.

Sharapova has plunged down the rankings after nine months out with a shoulder injury but reached the semifinals of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham last week.

© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement
Slideshow
  Scenes from Down Under
Check out the best images from the 2012 Australian Open.

NBCSports.com

Slideshows
2011 US Open - Day 8
Getty Images
  Celebrity tennis fans
Take a look at some well-known fans in the world of tennis.
Andre Agassi
Getty Images
  Grand Slam champs
Roger Federer and Andre Agassi are among the legendary players with singles titles at all four Slams.
French Open - Day Eleven
Getty Images
  Federer vs. Nadal
Relive the head-to-head battles between two of the top players in men's tennis.
17th Annual ESPY Awards - Backstage And Audience
Getty Images for ESPY
  Stylin' sisters
Check out the fashion choices Venus and Serena Williams have made on and off the court.
Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos