Wimbledon backs down but have seeds won?

Ossian Shine

After months of nit-picking, wrangling, threats of player boycotts and general ill-feeling between Wimbledon organisers and a band of players on the men's tennis circuit, that most traditional of tournaments has agreed to pioneer a new seeding system.

A group of mainly Spanish baseliners had vowed to stay away from the grasscourt Grand Slam unless they were seeded according to their world ranking -- determined by results 12 months a year on all surfaces.

Wimbledon argued equally vehemently that grass was a unique surface and that some high-ranked players never play more than a handful of matches on grass all year round.

Current world number five Juan Carlos Ferrero is a perfect example.

Undeniably a major force on clay and a rising talent, the Spaniard has only played one match on grass in his career, and he lost that 6-3 7-6 to Magnus Larsson, a Swede not known for specialising on the fast surface.

Still, though, Ferrero insisted he would not play at Wimbledon unless the seeding system was changed.

He was not alone. Ferrero was joined by compatriots Alex Corretja and Albert Costa as well as world number one Gustavo Kuerten.

So Wimbledon announced on Monday that they, along with the other three Grand Slam tournaments, would double the number of seeds at the tournament so that, when Pete Sampras kicks off Centre Court action at 2pm local time on Monday June 25, he will be leading a list of 32 seeds rather than 16.

STING IN THE TAIL

But the sting is in the tail for, although Wimbledon will seed the top 32-ranked players, they will also be using a formula to decide in what order.

To take into account grass court credentials, the players will be seeded per their ranking, plus points will be added based on a player's grass court results in the previous four years.

This will leave fourth-ranked Pete Sampras as top seed, and rightly so having won a record seven Wimbledon crowns.

Ferrero's straight sets loss to Larsson in Halle, Germany, will hardly improve his chances of a high seeding.

On analysis, the whole affair seems a little unnecessary.

Kuerten has since pulled out of the tournament, citing the need for a rest following his French Open exertions but he had plenty to say on the subject.

"I don't think Wimbledon respects the players. What they do is not fair. It is the only tournament that does not seed from the entry system," he said.

Again, Kuerten's record on grass is not going to have anyone quivering in their white trainers.

Andre Agassi's reaction was refreshing. "I say seed me wherever you want and I am going to show up and try to win," he said. "Stick me wherever you want in the draw and I am going to go out there and realise I have to beat seven players to win and what order they come in doesn't matter to me."

PROTECTED SEEDING

But then again Agassi has won Wimbledon, as well as the other Grand Slam tournaments in Paris, New York and Melbourne, so he knows a protected seeding will not help you on grass.

In many respects, the baseline contingent might have shot itself in the foot. For some, their best chance of getting past a couple of rounds would have been to have played another baseliner.

But with 32 players now seeded, many baseliners will be kept apart in the opening rounds, increasing the chances of a first-round match against the lowly-ranked but lethal likes of Greg Rusedski and Richard Krajicek.

Or Goran Ivanisevic, Todd Martin and even Andy Roddick, all of whom would, in all likelihood, make mincemeat out of a baseliner on a lush, green lawn.

There is an old saying which goes: 'Be careful what you wish for, it might just come true.'

Tennis players may do well to remember that.