Spaniards Withdraw in Wimbledon Protest

Alex Corretja and Albert Costa, angry they were not seeded at Wimbledon, pulled out of the tournament Sunday to protest preferential seedings given to strong grass-court players.

They withdrew on the eve of the tournament and 90 minutes after holding a news conference with Tim Phillips, chairman of the All England Club, and Mark Miles, chief executive officer of the ATP tour.

Phillips said the club would not fine them.

Corretja had threatened to “play one game and go home,” which would have been an embarrassment to Wimbledon.

“We’re not terrorists,” Corretja said. “We came here to express a point of view about what we consider an injustice.”

Corretja, Costa and another Spaniard, Juan Carlos Ferrero, are all ranked among the top 16. They were not among the 16 players seeded last week because of their poor record on grass. Ferrero subsequently withdrew, claiming a back injury.

“Mentally, I don’t feel like playing this year’s Wimbledon because I don’t see myself respected as a person and as a player,” Corretja said.

Originally, 11 of the 128 men in the Wimbledon field were Spaniards.

Costa was to face Richard Krajicek in Monday’s first round. Krajicek, the 1996 champion, was seeded 11th despite being ranked 25th by the ATP. Corretja was to face fellow Spaniard Alberto Martin.

Austria’s Werner Eschauer replaces Costa. Germany’s Michal Kohlmann replaces Corretja.

The other three Grand Slam events follow the ATP rankings for seedings. But Wimbledon seedings are based on a player’s ability on grass courts.

Corretja argued Sunday for Wimbledon to use the ATP rankings. Wimbledon has used its own seeding system since 1924.

Wimbledon’s system has been accepted reluctantly by some players. But until this season only a player’s best 14 tournaments counted toward the rankings, prompting some players to skip Wimbledon if they knew they would not play well there.

The All England Club said it will work with the ATP Tour to study its seedings format.