Wimbledon seeds announced - Serena Williams at #25.

[Aussie Darcy]

Well this is interesting.

After months of discussion of whether or not Serena would be seeded, Wimbledon decide to seed her at #25 despite her ranking sitting at #183.

No idea how they come up with that one, she's one seeded spot behind #24 Sharapova.
Being #25 means she will draw one of the top 8 in the 3R. So she will be drawn to face one of the following: Halep, Wozniacki, Muguruza, Stephens, Svitolina, Garcia, Pliskova or Kvitova.

This decision also means that Dominika Cibulkova will be unseeded.

I'm sure this will have some interesting comments, Cibulkova definitely won't be happy.

Done a poll too.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I guess this way the tournament can ensure one of their biggest drawcards will stick around til the 3R. Not protecting her too much by making her a top 8 seed but still protecting her enough from drawing a seed in the 1R. If she was unseeded she could've drawn Halep or Venus in the 1R which whilst would be a popcorn match, would mean they'd lose a huge drawcard early.

 

[MarcusInKensington]

I’d love to know how they came up with a ranking of 25. Perhaps the draw has already been made, and 25th gives her a favourable draw.

If you’re going to seed her, she should be seeded near the top. Personally, I think she should have been unseeded, and 25th is a nothing seeding, unless the draw is a dirty rotten fix.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I’d love to know how they came up with a ranking of 25. Perhaps the draw has already been made, and 25th gives her a favourable draw.

If you’re going to seed her, she should be seeded near the top. Personally, I think she should have been unseeded, and 25th is a nothing seeding, unless the draw is a dirty rotten fix.

I think it's so the tournament keeps their big drawcard til at least the 3R.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I hope she slays and shows it doesn't matter.

 

[Russeljones]

A QF would be sufficient to vindicate the organisers' decision.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Can't help but note that Azarenka got pregnant and left tour when she was top 6 in the world after winning the Sunshine double and yet received no such help when she returned as a mum.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

The problem with the women's seeding system compared to men's where they use a mathematical formula is how do they figure out a "proper" seed?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

The problem with the women's seeding system compared to men's where they use a mathematical formula is how do they figure out a "proper" seed?

Well it's just like every other tour event to the ATP/WTA where it's the top 32 players (assuming no withdrawals). Wasn't really an issue until now.

 

[Deleted member 735320]

I hope she slays and shows it doesn't matter.

It would be nice. However, she is a sluggish shadow of her former self and has very very limited mobility. On grass her lack of mobility will matter less than in NY. I honestly believe that Halep could take her apart on clay or hard 6-1, 6-1 right now.

 

[AM75]

And despite the reports that Makarova/Vesnina will play together again they are absent from the WD seeding list. So they probably really did split for good.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Well it's just like every other tour event to the ATP/WTA where it's the top 32 players (assuming no withdrawals). Wasn't really an issue until now.

I meant, what makes her specifically seed #25 and not, say a top 8/16/24 or the #32 seed?

 

[Thriller]

She should have been seeded at No. 1, like every mother who returns from maternity leave to the same job with the same rank, pay and conditions.

However, I am not too bothered as long as she is on Centre or No. 1 for all of her matches, which would of course be unusual for the no. 25 seed.

 

[junior74]

So... finally this outfit gets its renaissance

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I meant, what makes her specifically seed #25 and not, say a top 8/16/24 or the #32 seed?

Like I said in the other posts, I think this decision was done because it really only screws over one person: Cibulkova.

If they had seeded her #1 then it would heavily impacted the draw.
2x champ Kvitova would be bumped from a top 8 seeding which would be huge.
Last years QFist Ostapenko would miss out on top 12 seed
Last years QFist Vandeweghe would miss top 16 seed.
Former champ Sharapova would be bumped from a top 24 seed to 25.

No matter where they placed her, people would get screwed over. This decision means it's only Domi and also means the tournament gets to keep Serena rather safe til the 3R.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Cibulkova's reaction:

 

[Krish872007]

Yeah, why not - if you are going to give her a seeding, give her a seed that minimises the damage done to the draw and to other players.

 

[Gazelle]

So tournament just arbitrarily awards seedings now? What's the point of having a ranking system then?

 

[tennis_pro]

Will she withdraw from the match against the first seeded player she is to face again?

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Never any doubt they were going to do it - it's the politically correct move.

But #25 makes more sense than any other number.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Will she withdraw from the match against the first seeded player she is to face again?

Um.... Serena played the #17 seed Ash Barty in the 2R and the #11 seed Goerges in the 3R of the French Open... Not sure where this 'again' business is.

 

[Krish872007]

Actually, the seeding formula they use for Wimbledon for the men's side uses 2017-18 grass points + 75% of best 2016-17 grass tournament.

I think it's entirely possible that they've applied the men's formula on Serena as a special case.
Serena won Wimbledon 2016, so if they implemented this discretionary change, that would give her 2000*0.75 = 1500 additional points. (No points earned in the following grass season)

So her adjusted pts total goes from 315 to 1,815. The rest of the seedings follow the WTA ranking list, and thus 1,815 pts puts her at #25.

 

[tennisaddict]

Sounds like Wimbledon organizers didn’t want to deal with the often obnoxious Rena Army

 

[tennis_pro]

Um.... Serena played the #17 seed Ash Barty in the 2R and the #11 seed Goerges in the 3R of the French Open... Not sure where this 'again' business is.

Barty and Goerges were seeded? WTA is in a worse state than I initially thought

 

[tennis_pro]

I hope she loses in the first round.

Damn, I hope she retires already, she's done enough damage to the WTA and won way too many powderpuff Slams which inflated her number. Graf and Navratilova were way better than her and they were actually built like women.

 

[Archsree]

Why can't they compensate cibulkova with prize money of 3round or fourth round?

 

[WDC]

Bad decision from Wimbledon but time for the WTA to make the rankings based on a 2 year cycle, then women who get pregnant, or injured can hold some ground. Williams getting special treatment that is the norm and how the game has suffered.

 

[AM75]

Barty and Goerges were seeded? WTA is in a worse state than I initially thought

They were seeded because they both are solid players and both performed well and won a decent number of tournaments between fall 2017 and spring 2018.

 

[Phoenix1983]

Incorrect decision.

 

[Red Rick]

Now that we've established that preferential treatment is acceptable, can Nadal please get a 3rd serve cause we all know a Fedal final would be box office?

 

[EloQuent]

25th seed sounds about right. She left as #1 but she's not playing like a #1 now.

But I'm not comfortable with her getting special treatment. Vika didn't get it, other players didn't get it. It needs to be set in the rules. You get to keep half of your points, idk something like that. That way the player ranked 32 knows in advance and doesn't get rudely bumped.

 

[AustinTx24]

If I was Cibulkova or Azarenka I'd be pissed.

 

[Bartelby]

Wimbledon does not have a ranking system. That belongs to the ATP.

It's a one-off privately-owned tournament that fashions its seeds to enhance the tournament.

So tournament just arbitrarily awards seedings now? What's the point of having a ranking system then?

 

[tennisaddict]

25th seed sounds about right. She left as #1 but she's not playing like a #1 now.

But I'm not comfortable with her getting special treatment. Vika didn't get it, other players didn't get it. It needs to be set in the rules. You get to keep half of your points, idk something like that. That way the player ranked 32 knows in advance and doesn't get rudely bumped.

If they are righting a wrong , I think it is ok

On principle it makes Sense to give them protected ranking for qualification but I am not too sure whether protected seeding is needed

 

[tenisdecente]

Now that we've established that preferential treatment is acceptable, can Nadal please get a 3rd serve cause we all know a Fedal final would be box office?

LOL, this x 1000 times
I could not care less about Serena, but this clearly shows the double standards rampant these days. Azarenka got back after pregnancy? Who cares, she needs to earn his ranking again - no preferential treatment for her.
Serena in the same situaton? Oh yeah, black girl, from US, and candidate for GOAT in women's tennis? Automatic seeding from nowhere. Absolutely fair!

This is so absurd... give me a break

 

[EloQuent]

If they are righting a wrong , I think it is ok

On principle it makes Sense to give them protected ranking for qualification but I am not too sure whether protected seeding is needed

Will the next player to return from pregnancy get seeded? If so, write it into the rules. If not, this is just special treatment for Serena.

 

[tenisdecente]

Will the next player to return from pregnancy get seeded? If so, write it into the rules. If not, this is just special treatment for Serena.

Exactly. I would like to suggest to call it "The Serena rule"

I am completely fine with tournaments giving WC's to those who they consider right, even if sometimes dopers like Sharapova got them. At least they have the right to do that, and you can agree or disagree about it. But giving a seed in a Grand Slam out of nowhere is absolutely disgraceful and not fair treatment to the girl who worked for her ranking and now it is out of the 32 seeds. Jeez

 

[Bartelby]

So it's highly unintelligible to people that the greatest women's tennis player in history should be seeded?

As for Azarenka, she has never really returned to tennis because her baby's father won't let her travel with her child.

I don't know how you'd make a rule about this issue, which seems to require the exercise of discretionary judgement.

In this case, the judgement seems wise and finely calibrated.

 

[Bukowski]

Pregnancy is a well deserved reason for a protected ranking which in her case would result in direct acceptance into every tournament. But i dont think seeding is the right call. She has only played 4 events this year and while she has improved her form and physical condition it is obvious she is not playing at her usual level or the level that would be deserving of a seed. Of course she is a legend and borderline untouchable when in good match condition but she has really yet to show that this year which is completely understandable. I dont think there is any prejudice in declining her a seeded position but creating a rule that gives players a special protected ranking to enter tournaments without a WC. Not fair to Cibulkova who is in good shape physically and been able to travel and compete all year to deserve her prior seeding. If Serena was so passionate about this issue I really wish she wouldve spoken up for other players who have had to endure this process instead of forcing the issue using her star status.

 

[tenisdecente]

Pregnancy is a well deserved reason for a protected ranking which in her case would result in direct acceptance into every tournament. But i dont think seeding is the right call. She has only played 4 events this year and while she has improved her form and physical condition it is obvious she is not playing at her usual level or the level that would be deserving of a seed. Of course she is a legend and borderline untouchable when in good match condition but she has really yet to show that this year which is completely understandable. I dont think there is any prejudice in declining her a seeded position but creating a rule that gives players a special protected ranking to enter tournaments without a WC. Not fair to Cibulkova who is in good shape physically and been able to travel and compete all year to deserve her prior seeding. If Serena was so passionate about this issue I really wish she wouldve spoken up for other players who have had to endure this process instead of forcing the issue using her star status.

Serena using her star status to get a seed?
No man, you are thinking bad. Serena is a saint. How dare you!

 

[Shaolin]

I'd like to see Cibulkova take her out in straights.

 

[weelie]

So... would it possible to get a 1st round tie of Serena-Cibulkova? That would be interesting to see.

 

[Bartelby]

The return to 16 seeds will probably put an end to the matter, in any event, after this one-off decision.

 

[mbm0912]

Let her wear the black fat suit as well. Looking forward to an early round exit from the Queen.

 

[Thriller]

She has only played 4 events this year and while she has improved her form and physical condition it is obvious she is not playing at her usual level or the level that would be deserving of a seed.

Er ... She beat the number 17, and the number 11 seed in straight sets on her worst surface at the French Open and you think she is not currently playing tennis worthy of a seed?

 

[Bukowski]

Er ... She beat the number 17, and the number 11 seed in straight sets on her worst surface at the French Open and you think she is not currently playing tennis worthy of a seed?

Admittedly I do not follow womens tennis as closely. But you cannot judge off a single tournament. Especially one that she pulled out of citing injury ("cant even serve", right?). This is only a few weeks later, and she has played no other tournaments. Like I said she has improved leaps and bounds with each appearance and when on, she is borderline untouchable. Just saying she has yet to show this type of condition with any type of consistency. Also, she is a 2 time former champ of the FO and was no.1 when she last played. The ability is obviously there, it just needs to be proven over the course of a few more tournaments. With no points to defend she could easily be seeded for the US Open. This isnt a perfect example, but Joachim Johansson was ranked very low coming into Stockholm 2006 and had played a handful of events, mostly futures and challengers and beat Nadal then no.2 and Vliegen ranked 35 before barely losing to Nieminen who was then top 20. Was he playing tennis worthy of a seed at the Australian open in 2007? Where was this dialogue when Clijsters entered the US Open unseeded coming back from pregnancy?

 

[tenisdecente]

Admittedly I do not follow womens tennis as closely. But you cannot judge off a single tournament. Especially one that she pulled out of citing injury ("cant even serve", right?). This is only a few weeks later, and she has played no other tournaments. Like I said she has improved leaps and bounds with each appearance and when on, she is borderline untouchable. Just saying she has yet to show this type of condition with any type of consistency. Also, she is a 2 time former champ of the FO and was no.1 when she last played. The ability is obviously there, it just needs to be proven over the course of a few more tournaments. With no points to defend she could easily be seeded for the US Open. This isnt a perfect example, but Joachim Johansson was ranked very low coming into Stockholm 2006 and had played a handful of events, mostly futures and challengers and beat Nadal then no.2 and Vliegen ranked 35 before barely losing to Nieminen who was then top 20. Was he playing tennis worthy of a seed at the Australian open in 2007? Where was this dialogue when Clijsters entered the US Open unseeded coming back from pregnancy?

Shhh dont scream that so loud. People can get offended

 

[Bukowski]

Shhh dont scream that so loud. People can get offended

I dont know if its so much as people getting offended, but more that they've already made up their minds.

 

[Bartelby]

And she probably would have beaten Sharapova easily if she had not withdrawn, but, quite diplomatically, they put her just behind Sharapova in the seedings.

Er ... She beat the number 17, and the number 11 seed in straight sets on her worst surface at the French Open and you think she is not currently playing tennis worthy of a seed?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Barty and Goerges were seeded? WTA is in a worse state than I initially thought

Don't act surprised. You don't follow the WTA and were caught out trying to drag Serena and it backfired.
Anyway, Barty made the Premier 5 Wuhan final, Premier Birmingham and Sydney final and won Nottingham. Goerges won like 15 matches in a row to win Premier Moscow, the Elite Trophy and the Auckland title. They're doing pretty well to be top 20 seeds. Next time, do your research.