OWN CORRESPONDENT, London | Wednesday 12.00pm.
SOUTH Africans Wayne Ferreira and Neville Godwin on Tuesday accused Wimbledon of “rigging” the seedings to favor certain players.
The two players sided with Spaniards Alex Corretja, Albert Costa and Juan Carlos Ferrero over a seeding system that gives preference to grass-court players.
Corretja and Costa withdrew from the tournament on Sunday after they were not seeded in the top 16, despite having top-16 ATP rankings. Ferrero, also ranked in the top 16, withdrew with an apparent injury after he was left unseeded.
The Spaniards were not fined.
“Despite what they may say, these guys are in essence crooking the draw,” Ferreira told AP.
Ferreira pointed out the advantage players like Tim Henman and Richard Krajicek have by being seeded despite ATP Tour rankings lower than 16.
“Even the way they have done it stinks,” Ferreira said. “They have put (Greg) Rusedski at 14 so he won’t have to play Sampras or (Andre) Agassi in the round of 16, and Henman at eight so he won’t meet them until the quarterfinals at least. They can argue what they like. That’s rigging the draw.”
Rusedski was sent packing in the first round on Monday by American Vince Spadea.
Godwin said that American Todd Martin didn’t get a seed despite being ranked higher than Krajicek, Rafter or Rusedski. Martin is a two-time semifinalist and quarterfinalist at Wimbledon.
“How do they explain that?” he said. “That’s a better record on grass than either Henman, Rusedski and Rafter. Now he has to play (second-seeded Andre) Agassi in the second round.”
Ferreira and Godwin both won their first-round matches.
Meanwhile, Amanda Coetzer cruised to a comfortable 6-4 6-2 first-round win over American Mashona Washington.
Washington had to qualify for the tournament and struggled against Coetzer, who needed just 58 minutes to register the win.