Sampras, Hingis Gain Top Seedings

Pete Sampras may have slipped to fifth in the world rankings, but he’s still No. 1 at Wimbledon.

Organizers of the grass-court Grand Slam championship ignored the ATP rankings on Monday and gave the seven-time champion the top seeding for the tournament, which starts next week.

Andre Agassi, second in the rankings, was seeded No. 2, meaning he and Sampras cannot meet until the final.

Australia’s Patrick Rafter, last year’s runner-up, is No. 3 despite a ranking of 10, with U.S. Open champion Marat Safin of Russia at No. 4. Lleyton Hewitt, the Australian who on Sunday won the grass-court tournament at Queen’s Club, is No. 5.

Martina Hingis was seeded No. 1 in the women’s field, the same as her world ranking, followed by defending champion Venus Williams.

For the first time in its 124-year history, Wimbledon will have 32 seeded players instead of the usual 16 in each singles draw.

The organizers decided to double the number of seedings to try to pacify the clay-court players who claim the seeding system is biased toward grass-court players.

French Open runner-up Alex Corretja, who had threatened to boycott Wimbledon over the issue, pulled out of the tournament hours before the draw, citing a leg injury.

French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten, ranked No. 1 in the world and another Wimbledon critic, withdrew last week because of a groin problem.

Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero is the only big-name clay-courter in the men’s draw. He is seeded eighth, four places below his ranking.

Despite Wimbledon’s policy of not sticking to the rankings, the ATP Players Council backed its decision to have 32 seedings.

“I think all the players are really, really pleased with the way things have worked out,” council chairman Jonas Bjorkman said. “I think it’s the fairest way we can have it. Mandatory events like the Grand Slams really need to have 32 seeds.”

Only the top 32 ranked players in the field are eligible for seedings, and one who benefited from the withdrawals was Todd Martin. Ranked 33rd, he moved into the top pool when Corretja withdrew, and--having reached Wimbledon semifinals in 1994 and ‘96--was seeded 23rd.

In the women’s field, 1999 champion Lindsay Davenport was seeded No. 3. Jennifer Capriati, halfway to a Grand Slam sweep after winning the Australian and French Opens, is No. 4.

But Anna Kournikova became the latest women’s withdrawal Monday, sidelined by a stress fracture of the foot that has kept her out of action since the end of February.

Apart from Kournikova, other big names missing from the women’s draw are Monica Seles, who also missed the French Open because of a recurring foot injury, and former French Open champion Mary Pierce (back).