Wimbledon Seedings Favor Williams Sisters

Despite a season of injuries, losses and tumbling rankings, Serena and Venus Williams are the players to beat at Wimbledon.

The sisters received a break from the All England Club on Wednesday when they were seeded way above their current rankings in recognition of their Wimbledon credentials and grass-court prowess.

Two-time defending champion Serena, ranked No. 10, was given the top seeding. Two-time winner Venus, ranked eighth, was seeded No. 3.

Russia’s Anastasia Myskina, the French Open champion who is ranked No. 3, is seeded second for Wimbledon, which begins Monday.

Without top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne and No. 2 Kim Clijsters, Serena was listed seven places above her ranking -- the biggest jump ever in the women’s seedings at Wimbledon.

“She is the defending champion and she has a great record of grass-court tennis -- it’s obviously one of her better surfaces,” Wimbledon referee Alan Mills said.

The seedings were more straightforward for the men, with the top four following the rankings.

Defending champion and top-ranked Roger Federer is No. 1, followed by Andy Roddick. Guillermo Coria, who lost in the French Open final, is No. 3, with 2002 Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian at No. 4.

Britain’s Tim Henman was moved from sixth in the rankings to No. 5 in the seedings. Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero dropped from fifth to sixth.

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Greg Rusedski won consecutive matches for the first time in a year, beating fifth-seeded Vince Spadea, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1, in the second round of the Nottingham Open grass-court tournament at Nottingham, England.

Top-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand eliminated South African veteran Wayne Ferreira, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. But third-seeded Swede Jonas Bjorkman lost to countryman Robin Soderling, 6-3, 6-4.

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Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France beat British wild card Amanda Janes, 6-4, 6-2, in the second round of the grass-court tournament at Eastbourne, England.

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Top-seeded Nadia Petrova was upset by Jelena Jankovic, 6-4, 6-3, in the Ordina Open at Den Bosch, Netherlands.

Auto Racing

Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick were penalized by NASCAR a second time for bumping each other at the end of last weekend’s Pocono 500.

The drivers, who previously were docked 10 finishing positions in last Sunday’s race, were fined $25,000 and put on probation until Aug. 11, a period covering the next seven Nextel Cup races.

With Sunday’s race about to end under caution, Harvick spun Kenseth into the infield. Kenseth then did the same to Harvick on the next lap.

College Basketball

Cincinnati men’s Coach Bob Huggins will not be allowed to use his university-supplied car or expense account during his indefinite suspension for drunken driving. University President Nancy Zimpher said that Huggins was prohibited from participating in any activities that involve university reimbursement and would receive only his base salary and benefits.

High School Sports

The surf team from San Clemente High will compete for its sixth title at the National Scholastic Surfing Assn.’s Interscholastic championships Friday and Saturday at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point.

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Chatsworth High’s baseball team, the City Section champions with a record of 35-0, will be honored on its home field between 4 p.m. and 7 on Friday.

Information: (818) 998-3850.

Jurisprudence

The daughter and son-in-law of the late Ted Williams have ended their two-year fight to have the baseball great’s remains removed from an Arizona cryonics lab.

Bobby-Jo and Mark Ferrell spent close to $100,000 battling Williams’ estate and his son, John Henry Williams. But when the money ran out, so did their will to keep trying, and a settlement was signed.

Pro Basketball

Center Vladimir Stepania exercised his option to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers through next season.... The New Orleans Hornets claimed guard Alex Garcia off waivers from the San Antonio Spurs.

Passings

Jack Spencer, who coached the Nevada men’s basketball team to 123 wins and three conference championships from 1959 to 1972, has died in Davenport, Iowa, at the age of 81.