LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz — not four-time defending champion Novak Djokovic — and Iga Swiatek were seeded No. 1 for Wimbledon on Wednesday, as expected, because the All England Club adhered to the ATP and WTA rankings.
Alcaraz overtook Djokovic atop the men’s standings on Monday. Djokovic has not played since collecting his men’s record 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open on June 11 and slid to No. 2, while Alcaraz rose one spot after winning a grass-court tuneup tournament at Queen’s Club on Sunday.
Djokovic has won the championship at Wimbledon each of the past four times it was held — and seven times overall — but he did not benefit from a ranking boost in 2022 because the ATP and WTA withheld all points to protest the All England Club’s decision to ban players from Russia and Belarus because of the invasion of Ukraine.
Those athletes are allowed to compete this year, and Russian player Daniil Medvedev is seeded No. 3 in the men’s field, while Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka is No. 2 in the women’s field.
The draw to set up the singles brackets will be Friday. The tournament begins Monday.
Casper Ruud is No. 4 of the 32 men’s seeds, followed by Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune, Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe.
