LONDON: Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are on course for a Wimbledon final showdown after being confirmed as the top two seeds for the grasscourt Grand Slam.
World No 1 Djokovic and No 2 Murray will be seeded in those positions, All England Club officials announced on Wednesday, meaning they can’t meet until the final as they will be placed at opposite ends of Friday’s draw. Djokovic is bidding to win Wimbledon for the fourth time and third year in a row.
Murray is aiming to win his third Grand Slam title and his first since he beat Djokovic in the 2013 Wimbledon final to become the first British male singles champion at the All England Club for 77 years.
Djokovic has defeated Roger Federer in the last two Wimbledon finals and the Swiss legend will be seeded third in his bid for a record eighth Wimbledon title. Federer’s compatriot Stan Wawrinka is seeded fourth and Japan’s Kei Nishikori is the fifth seed.
SERENA TOP SEED, MUGURUZA SECOND
Defending champion Serena Williams will be top seed in the women’s draw as the American looks to equal Steffi Graf ’s Open era record by sealing a 22nd Grand Slam triumph.
Williams, who has won Wimbledon six t i mes, has failed at the last hurdle in her last two major tournaments, enduring surprise defeats at the Australian and French Open finals this year. The world No 1’s conqueror at Roland Garros, Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, is seeded second with Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, the 2012 Wimbledon runner-up, named as the third seed.
Johanna Konta is the first British female to be seeded at Wimbledon since Jo Durie in 1984. The 25-year-old’s ranking has shot up from 146th to 18th and she was named as the 17th seed.
{{/usCountry}}Johanna Konta is the first British female to be seeded at Wimbledon since Jo Durie in 1984. The 25-year-old’s ranking has shot up from 146th to 18th and she was named as the 17th seed.
{{/usCountry}}