TENNIS / WIMBLEDON : Agassi and Navratilova Get a Break in Seedings

Andre Agassi on Monday became the lowest-seeded men’s defending champion in Wimbledon history--and needed a break to be seeded as high as he was.

Wimbledon officials installed the injury-plagued Agassi as the No. 8 seeded player, even though his world ranking is No. 13. The unusually low seeding was in recognition of his status as defending champion, and it means Agassi won’t face a top-eight player before the quarterfinals.

Agassi has not played competitively since April 9 because of tendinitis in his right wrist.

“It was a difficult decision bearing in mind he has not played much in the last couple of months because of injury,” said Alan Mills, Wimbledon referee. “But he is the defending champion and he proved he can play on grass.”

Since seedings were introduced at Wimbledon in 1927, no men’s champion returning to defend his title had been seeded lower than No. 6. The seeding committee also used discretion in making Stefan Edberg No. 2 behind top-seeded Pete Sampras. Jim Courier was bumped to No. 3.

Among the women, Martina Navratilova’s wish to avoid top-seeded Steffi Graf until the final was granted when she was elevated to No. 2, above higher-ranked Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.

Graf, the defending champion, won the French Open to reclaim the No. 1 ranking from Monica Seles, who is sidelined indefinitely after being stabbed April 30 during a tournament in Germany.

Sanchez Vicario, ranked No. 3 behind Seles, was bypassed in favor of Navratilova, who has won Wimbledon nine times. Last week, Navratilova said she deserved the No. 2 spot because she was the better grass-court player. “I don’t think I really influenced the decision, but it makes sense for me to be upgraded,” Navratilova said.