Seeding boost for Serena in US Open

TENNIS AN ARBITRARY decision by the US Tennis Association has vaulted Serena Williams over Ash Barty and eight other women in the Flushing Meadows seedings.

Barty was dropped to 18th seed in the list released yesterday despite a WTA ranking of No.17 as part of the USTA’s desire to elevate Williams, ranked No.26, in the seedings.

Despite its policy of following tour rankings, Williams is seeded 17th for the US Open, which starts on Tuesday morning (Qld time), with the USTA seedings committee finding it a bridge too far to elevate her above elder sister Venus, who is the 16th seed.

It is not clear if Barty will have recovered from a virus in time to compete at the US Open.

The decision to seed Serena Williams 17th was due to factors including “her return to competition following the birth of her daughter, her recent hardcourt performance this summer and recognition of her achievements at the US Open”, according to Chris Widmaier, a USTA spokesman.

A top-16 seeding would have meant the 23-time Grand Slam singles title winner would not have to meet a top-eight player before the fourth round in New York.

Nick Kyrgios was seeded 30th for the US Open, with men’s seedings done according to this week’s ATP rankings.

Williams has played six tournaments this year.