Move to seed Serena splits Wimbledon

Ace grateful for organisers’ call

London – Serena Williams has thanked Wimbledon chiefs for giving her the controversial seeding that divided the tennis world ahead of the grass-court Grand Slam.

Williams’ seeding has been a hot topic after the seven-time Wimbledon champion’s tentative return to action following the birth of daughter Alexis Olympia in September.

The 36-year-old played her first Grand Slam for over a year at the French Open last month, reaching the fourth round before a shoulder injury forced her to quit ahead of her clash with Maria Sharapova.

Williams is ranked 181 after her maternity leave and French Open chiefs decided against seeding her.

However, Wimbledon officials felt the former world number one’s record on grass was so superior to her rivals that they seeded her 25th to ensure a balanced draw.

Slovakian world number 32 Dominika Cibulkova was bumped from the seeding group as a result and complained bitterly in advance of the decision.

Other female stars are reported to be unhappy with Williams’ seeding, but some, including two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, insist they have no problem with the move. Serena wasn’t sure she would be seeded for Wimbledon, which starts today, and the 23-time major winner – seven-time at Wimbledon – admitted she could have no complaints.

“I think I would be very ungrateful if I sat here and said it was too low, to be honest. So not at all,” Williams said yesterday. “In fact, I was pleasantly surprised. I came in here expecting that maybe I wouldn’t get a seed.

Williams’ return to Wimbledon carries extra significance as it is 20 years since she made her debut, reaching the third round as a raw teenager.

She admitted it was emotional to be at a Grand Slam with her husband and daughter for the first time.