Novak Djokovic's return to action is one of the biggest talking points ahead of the new tennis season. Matthew Childs / Reuters
Novak Djokovic's return to action is one of the biggest talking points ahead of the new tennis season. Matthew Childs / Reuters
Novak Djokovic's return to action is one of the biggest talking points ahead of the new tennis season. Matthew Childs / Reuters
Novak Djokovic's return to action is one of the biggest talking points ahead of the new tennis season. Matthew Childs / Reuters

Djokovic and Federer get seedings boost ahead of Wimbledon


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Three-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic has been bumped up to second seed for next week's tournament despite slipping to fourth in the ATP world rankings, while seven-times champion Roger Federer has also benefitted.

The seedings, released by the All England Club on Wednesday, have defending champion Andy Murray No 1 in the men's singles with Germany's Angelique Kerber the women's top seed.

Wimbledon differs from the other grand slams, in the men's singles at least, with previous form on grass in the previous two years coming into play to re-order the top 32 in the world rankings - a system agreed by the ATP.

Spaniard Rafa Nadal, who won a 10th French Open last month, is second in the ATP rankings but will be seeded fourth at Wimbledon after a mediocre record there in recent years, having not been beyond the fourth round since 2011.

  • EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Angelique Kerber of Germany in action during her victory over Kristyna Pliskova of Czech Republic on Day 4 of the Aegon International Eastbourne tournament at Devonshire Park on June 28, 2017 in Eastbourne, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
    EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Angelique Kerber of Germany in action during her victory over Kristyna Pliskova of Czech Republic on Day 4 of the Aegon International Eastbourne tournament at Devonshire Park on June 28, 2017 in Eastbourne, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
  • Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon International - Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Britain - June 28, 2017 Canada's Vasek Pospisil in action during his second round match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
    Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon International - Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Britain - June 28, 2017 Canada's Vasek Pospisil in action during his second round match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
  • Serbia's Novak Djokovic plays a return to Canada's Vasek Pospisil during their quarterfinal match on day five of the AEGON International tennis tournament at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, England, Wednesday June 28, 2017. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)
    Serbia's Novak Djokovic plays a return to Canada's Vasek Pospisil during their quarterfinal match on day five of the AEGON International tennis tournament at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, England, Wednesday June 28, 2017. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)
  • Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon International - Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Britain - June 28, 2017 Germany's Angelique Kerber in action during her first round match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
    Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon International - Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Britain - June 28, 2017 Germany's Angelique Kerber in action during her first round match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
  • Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon International - Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Britain - June 28, 2017 Germany's Angelique Kerber in action during her first round match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
    Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon International - Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Britain - June 28, 2017 Germany's Angelique Kerber in action during her first round match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
  • Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon International - Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Britain - June 28, 2017 Great Britain's Johanna Konta in action during her first round match against Romania's Sorana Cirstea Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
    Tennis - WTA Premier - Aegon International - Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Britain - June 28, 2017 Great Britain's Johanna Konta in action during her first round match against Romania's Sorana Cirstea Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Despite winning the title twice, the 31-year-old has not been past the fourth round since 2011.

Favourite Federer, fifth on the ATP rankings, is seeded third which means he will avoid one of his biggest rivals for the title until the semi-finals.

Fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka, runner-up at the French, drops to fifth seed, from his world ranking of No 3.

Other beneficiaries of the system include Luxembourg's grasscourt expert Gilles Muller who is seeded 16th compared to an ATP ranking of 26.

Muller won the recent Den Bosch tournament and reached the semi-final at Queen's Club last week.

Queen's Club champion Feliciano Lopez, ranked 25, is seeded 19th.

The women's seeds stick strictly with the current WTA rankings. Romania's Simon Halep, who could take over the top spot this week if she wins the Eastbourne title, is seeded at No 2.

* Reuters