Tennis: Djokovic, Sharapova named top seeds

LONDON: Defending Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic has been confirmed as the top seed in this year’s men’s singles, while French Open winner Maria Sharapova is the top-seed in the women’s singles. Djokovic, the current world number one, was beaten by Rafael Nadal in the French Open final earlier this month but he retains the top seeding ahead of the Spaniard. Six-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer is seeded third as he seeks to win a grand slam for the first time since the 2010 Australian Open. In the womens’ singles, the seedings reflect the current WTA Tour rankings, with world number one Sharapova ahead of world number two Victoria Azarenka followed by Agnieszka Radwanska and Petra Kvitova. Australia’s Sam Stosur is the fifth seed and America’s Serena Williams, a four-time Wimbledon winner, is seeded sixth.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2012.