Serena Williams seeded 17 at U.S. Open, nine spots above her ranking

[TMF]

Serena Williams seeded 17 at U.S. Open, nine spots above her ranking


Serena Williams got a bit of a boost in the seedings for the U.S. Open by being placed at No. 17, nine spots above her current ranking of number 26.

The U.S. Tennis Association's decision, announced Tuesday along with all the other seeds for the main draws of women's and men's singles, means Williams avoids a possible matchup against one of the top eight players in the third round.

USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier said the placement of Williams was determined by "balancing a variety of factors, including her return to competition following the birth of her daughter, her recent hard court performance this summer, and recognition of her achievements at the U.S. Open."

He added that the USTA thought the decision "recognizes Serena, and is fair to the remaining seeded players."

 

[Red Rick]

The A in WTA stands for "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA"

 

[NastyWinners]

wait....her recent hard court tournaments were factored in?! Shouldn’t she have been downgraded then?

 

[mbm0912]

lol....early round exit either way #SerenaPrivilege

 

[Towser83]

just to clarify, do they ever bump up the seeding of any other players in the WTA?

 

[TMF]

wait....her recent hard court tournaments were factored in?! Shouldn’t she have been downgraded then?

It's clearly a favoritism. The USTA wants Serena to win. I laugh at the part where they say it's a fair decision.

 

[r2473]

 

[fed1]

She was going to be seeded any way. No need to move that seeding. Hey USTA, don’t give us the bs about “her recent hard court performance this summer”, that one big match win against Gavrilova deserved being moved up 9 spots? Funny, they didn’t feel the need to “adjust” Djokovic’s seeding. What about his recent performance?

 

[Ann]

I like Serena but she doesn't deserve a 17th seed at the US Open. I think this is B.S.

 

[jm1980]

Welcome to the US Open, where seeds are made up and the ranking doesn't matter.

 

[dropshotlikeitshot]

She was going to be seeded any way. No need to move that seeding. Hey USTA, don’t give us the bs about “her recent hard court performance this summer”, that one big match win against Gavrilova deserved being moved up 9 spots? Funny, they didn’t feel the need to “adjust” Djokovic’s seeding. What about his recent performance?

Novak was never breadsticked and bageled by Konta, therefore no seeding boost for him

 

[mellowyellow]

More affirmative action. Seriously when is some one going to step in and say this is wrong and unfair treatment? Conflict of interest here, maybe a third party needs to handle seeding and draws? This is just lol in the face of all that is fair. Did Bertens get a bump? Or Garcia?

 

[Devil_dog]

USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier said the placement of Williams was determined by "balancing a variety of factors, including her return to competition following the birth of her daughter, her recent hard court performance this summer, and recognition of her achievements at the U.S. Open."

So, if you have a child you should be seeded up? So if you get embarrassed at a recent hard court tournament, 6-1 6-0, you get seeded up? So if you threaten to physically harm a line judge at the very same Slam and get suspended, you get seeded up? Makes total perfect sense.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

So, if you have a child you should be seeded up? So if you get embarrassed at a recent hard court tournament, 6-1 6-0, you get seeded up? So if you threaten to physically harm a line judge at the very same Slam and get suspended, you get seeded up? Makes total perfect sense.

God, the haters will do anything in their power to turn a Serena thread into something from 9 years ago. Grow up.

 

[Devil_dog]

God, the haters will do anything in their power to turn a Serena thread into something from 9 years ago. Grow up.

I'm only quoting the insanity of the "reasoning" of the USTA spokesperson. This has nothing to do with bias... Or maturity. Get some perspective.

 

[upchuck]

The US Open has made it clear that maternity leave should contribute to a protected seeding. Just more curious hatred from some people here.

 

[Devil_dog]

The US Open has made it clear that maternity leave should contribute to a protected seeding. Just more curious hatred from some people here.

I have no hatred or otherwise. But if maternity leave is a reason, did they do the same for Victoria Azarenka?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I must be the only one who understand this move from the US Open’s viewpoint.

She would’ve been the #25 seed so she could’ve faced a top 8 player in the 3R, they boost her to #17 so it’s the 4R instead before she meets a top 8 player. They factored in her recent performances (Wimbledon final being a good result and then the poor loss in San Jose and ok result in Cincy). Instead of making her a top 8 or top 16 seed they made her a top 24 seed. You can argue they should’ve just left her as the #25 seed but from an economic standpoint and trying to make sure they have the second biggest name in tennis in later rounds, I understand. (Yes, I just said Serena was the second biggest name in tennis, don’t @ me your anger).

 

[Midaso240]

Crazy stuff,it's basically 'the Serena rule' why didn't other player returning from pregnancy or other factors get this treatment? Unfair to other players who have worked for their seedings...

 

[mbm0912]

Konta GOAT

 

[NastyWinners]

I could maybe see her getting the 20th seed as that is her current race ranking but her recent hard court performances has been less than standard for her.

Indian Wells -- Loss in Rd of 3 (V Williams)
Miami -- Loss in Rd 1 (Osaka)
San Jose -- Loss in Rd 1 (Konta)
Cincinnati -- Loss in Rd 2 (Kvitova)

The USTA should have never stated that her hard court performance was an indicator for the boost in ranking as she hasn't made the business end of a hard court tournament since her AO Triumph.

 

[Wycliffe2]

It's amazing the usta made a decision to bump Serena seedings up and Serena is being slagged off for it. As if she asked for her seeding to be change. Serena always say she doesn't care about seedings as what was demonstrated in the Aussie open some years back. Now I must agree that Serena now is not the Serena pre pregnancy. However I do realised a pattern in every Serena thread how she gets really berated by quite a few posters . Now i understand that people have favourite players and i do. For example i am not a nadal fan (go easy) however i respect his achievements and his talents and i do think he is one of the best tennis players of our genre. But what i won't do is to be nasty to him as a player or a person. I just think we can appreciate a good or a great player without liking them. That seems to disappear when serena thread appear. By the way i am not a serena fan but i am a tennis fan and today i cheer for nadal tomorrow i can cheer for Federer the next day Djokovic.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[Deleted member 756486]

I must be the only one who understand this move from the US Open’s viewpoint.

She would’ve been the #25 seed so she could’ve faced a top 8 player in the 3R, they boost her to #17 so it’s the 4R instead before she meets a top 8 player. They factored in her recent performances (Wimbledon final being a good result and then the poor loss in San Jose and ok result in Cincy). Instead of making her a top 8 or top 16 seed they made her a top 24 seed. You can argue they should’ve just left her as the #25 seed but from an economic standpoint and trying to make sure they have the second biggest name in tennis in later rounds, I understand. (Yes, I just said Serena was the second biggest name in tennis, don’t @ me your anger).

Fedr and Nadl are bigger than Serena worldwide.

You can say Serena is bigger in America but America isn’t the world even if some like to think it is.

 

[Wycliffe2]

Fedr and Nadl are bigger than Serena worldwide.

You can say Serena is bigger in America but America isn’t the world even if some like to think it is.

Serena achievement makes her the best female tennis player of all time and if you can't see that or even acknowledge tgat fact well i rest my case

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[vandre]

does this mean that the term "serena seed" has been brought into the tennis vernacular to sit beside the term "serena slam"?

 

[MatsPhilander]

Just goes to show that mediocrity will be rewarded if you are the top dog.

 

[MLM]

Serena achievement makes her the best female tennis player of all time and if you can't see that or even acknowledge tgat fact well i rest my case

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

That has nothing to do with what paranoidandroid said

 

[norcal]

More affirmative action.

I don't think you understand what affirmative action is.

What the USTA did is the opposite of affirmative action.

 

[I Am Finnish]

I dont get it

 

[Red Rick]

Serena achievement makes her the best female tennis player of all time and if you can't see that or even acknowledge tgat fact well i rest my case

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[PDJ]

I have no hatred or otherwise. But if maternity leave is a reason, did they do the same for Victoria Azarenka?

That seems a very fair point.
Was Cljsters? I genuinely don't know.

 

[tacou]

She was going to be seeded any way. No need to move that seeding. Hey USTA, don’t give us the bs about “her recent hard court performance this summer”, that one big match win against Gavrilova deserved being moved up 9 spots? Funny, they didn’t feel the need to “adjust” Djokovic’s seeding. What about his recent performance?

yeah in a way this is more annoying than at Wimbledon. She was seeded. Let her take out/go down to a top 8 player in the third round. nbd.

 

[tennis_pro]

Still not as bad as 1996 US Open draw manipulation.

 

[True Fanerer]

Embarrassed to be an American.

 

[reaper]

I'm not sure how boosting her seeding helps her. Weren't all too 10 women out by the 2nd Monday at Wimbledon? The ranking of who you draw means little on the women's side.

 

[Ann]

The US Open has made it clear that maternity leave should contribute to a protected seeding. Just more curious hatred from some people here.

I wouldn't have a problem with that, except they only decided to "make it clear" because of Serena << that's what I have a problem with.

 

[diggler]

I must have missed something. If you are seeded 17-32, aren't they all basically equal? If she went to 16 there would be a difference.

 

[Zetty]

Well she does draw money, has won six of the things and made it to the finals of the last slam sooooo.....

 

[Enceladus]

I do not like, that Serena is so prefered. Kim Clijsters did not need such a preference to win the 2009 US Open.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Similar situation at Wimbledon? Weak WTA field (seeded players knocked out in early rounds). Rode the gravy train to easy early, mid and late round victories, to the final...where Kerber was able to expose Serenas false dawn.

Ill still pick a overweight slow footed Serena over the field. Expect most top seeds to drop before they would have met Serena. Serena is moving better than at Wimbledon, AND she's got that...look.

 

[Enceladus]

I must have missed something. If you are seeded 17-32, aren't they all basically equal? If she went to 16 there would be a difference.

Does it matter. Players 17-24 will compete in the 3rd round with opponents from 9-16. On the other hand, the 25-32 seeds is waiting in the 3rd round of the top 8. Serena was really prefered.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Lol so a woman that has given her life to tennis (and more successfully than literally almost anyone who has ever played the game, should stay seeded lower bc your inner Satan is angry? Sounds legit. Shes either going to be good enough or not at the end of the day, this is more PR than it will actually matter.

 

[Devil_dog]

That seems a very fair point.
Was Cljsters? I genuinely don't know.

Clijsters was not only a wild card, but was also UNSEEDED when she won in 2009.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_US_Open_–_Women's_Singles#Seeds

 

[PDJ]

Lol so a woman that has given her life to tennis (and more successfully than literally almost anyone who has ever played the game, should stay seeded lower bc your inner Satan is angry? Sounds legit. Shes either going to be good enough or not at the end of the day, this is more PR than it will actually matter.

Has she given her life to tennis?
She seems to cherry pick what tournaments she turns up to in the last few years. Prior to pregnancy she played very few tournaments leading up to maternity leave.
Has she served on the WTA, whilst playing, as most previous greats have? I don't know.
Although I suspect Graf didn't.

 

[PDJ]

just to clarify, do they ever bump up the seeding of any other players in the WTA?

Wimbledon have done so in the past. And for the ATP also.

 

[Wycliffe2]

This is exactly my point once Serena name is mentioned in a thread the haters just come out of the woodwork to really stick the knife in. And what they dont realise is that we impartial and true tennis fans can see the isms in there response. As i say before i think serena is like marmite (british expression) but whether you like her or not you cannot as a true tennis fan diminish her achievements. As i say i am not a fan but i respect her for what she has achieved as an athlete, as a woman and yes as a person of colour.
I am not saying you can't have an opinion but there is a difference between a valid opinion and vile and crude responses

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[Ann]

This is exactly my point once Serena name is mentioned in a thread the haters just come out of the woodwork to really stick the knife in. And what they dont realise is that we impartial and true tennis fans can see the isms in there response. As i say before i think serena is like marmite (british expression) but whether you like her or not you cannot as a true tennis fan diminish her achievements. As i say i am not a fan but i respect her for what she has achieved as an athlete, as a woman and yes as a person of colour.
I am not saying you can't have an opinion but there is a difference between a valid opinion and vile and crude responses

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

I like Serena, Serena didn't change the rankings. Criticizing the US Open isn't criticizing Serena.

 

[PDJ]

This is exactly my point once Serena name is mentioned in a thread the haters just come out of the woodwork to really stick the knife in. And what they dont realise is that we impartial and true tennis fans can see the isms in there response. As i say before i think serena is like marmite (british expression) but whether you like her or not you cannot as a true tennis fan diminish her achievements. As i say i am not a fan but i respect her for what she has achieved as an athlete, as a woman and yes as a person of colour.
I am not saying you can't have an opinion but there is a difference between a valid opinion and vile and crude responses

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

But what do you think about:

• her being seeded higher
• and because of her recent hard court results

 

[tennis_pro]

Lol so a woman that has given her life to tennis (and more successfully than literally almost anyone who has ever played the game, should stay seeded lower bc your inner Satan is angry? Sounds legit. Shes either going to be good enough or not at the end of the day, this is more PR than it will actually matter.

If giving her a higher seeding won't affect the end result why give her a higher seeding in the first place?

 

[tennis_pro]

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