Egypt's FM highlights 'soft power' in Mali meeting with alumni    Egypt's foreign minister opens business forum in Niger, targets new partnerships    Egypt's FM delivers Al-Sisi message to Niger's leader, seeks deeper security ties    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    Remittances from Egyptians abroad surge 70% YoY in July–May: CBE    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Al-Sisi urges accelerated oil, gas discoveries, lower import bill    SCZONE signs $52.6m textile industry deals during China investment tour    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi calls for boosting oil & gas investment to ease import burden    EGX to close Thursday for July 23 Revolution holiday    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Despite winning the French Open, Rafael Nadal will be a five seed at Wimbledon
Published in Arab News Agency on 21 - 06 - 2013

Individual sports rankings have always been a confusing formula. No matter if it's golf, tennis or ping-pong, rankings put together an assortment of numbers and records to try and get the most accurate interpretation of the current state of that sport, the problem being that sometimes it can't see the forest from the trees.
That is the current case with the seedings of Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal, who on June 9 won his record eighth French Open title, his first Grand Slam victory since returning from a seven-month hiatus from the sport because of a knee injury, actually dropped in the ATP rankings following his Grand Slam win.
On May 27, Nadal was the fourth-ranked player in the world, and following his win, when the rankings came out on June 10, he had dropped to No. 5. I understand that rankings put together a cumulative list of records and wins and focus on the whole pie as opposed to the most recent slice, but if you are telling me your ranking system works after it drops a guy that just won a Grand Slam title down a peg, then you, my friend, aren't getting it.
Nadal is now ranked No. 5 in the world, getting jumped by fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, who Nadal handled quite easily in the French Open finals, and despite questions from tennis fans and experts alike, will be seeded No. 5 when Wimbledon kicks off next week.
Yes, that's right, Nadal, the hottest player in the world right now and a guy that is 43-2 this year after returning to the game, is not even one of the top-four seeds at the most famous tennis tournament in the world.
What does this mean?
Well, it first puts Nadal at an automatic disadvantage later in his rounds, forcing him to play Roger Federer, Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, then drawing a formidable opponent in the semifinals only to most likely face one of those previous names in the finals on grass.
Nadal would most likely have to go through those guys anyway, but could you imagine having to slug out a five-set win over Djokovic only to come out two days later and get Ferrer, a man who is playing some great tennis right now, and then see Murray in the finals?
Nadal has won this event twice, making the finals in five of his last six starts at Wimbledon, yet his time away from the game because of injury is affecting his pole position, meaning he has to run through The Big Three well before one would expect.
It seems like a short-sighted way of ranking your players by Wimbledon, and will most likely ruin an incredible semifinals slate that could see the four names in men's tennis that we all want to see go against each other for the title King of the Grass.


Clic here to read the story from its source.