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Thursday 28 June 2018

Serena Williams at No. 25 in post-pregnancy Wimbledon return

By HOWARD FENDRICH fael Nadal is seeded No. 2.
AP Tennis Writer When Williams entered the
Serena Williams was seed- French Open in May, her
ed No. 25 for her return to first Grand Slam action in
Wimbledon after having a 16 months, she was not
baby, a decision by the All seeded by the French ten-
England Club announced nis federation. She wound
Wednesday that elevates up beating the women
the tournament's seven- ranked No. 11 and No. 17
time champion above her en route to reaching the
ranking of 183rd. fourth round. But because
While WTA rules allow wom- of an injured pectoral mus-
en who miss time because cle, Williams pulled out of
of a pregnancy to enter Roland Garros before what
events based on their pre- would have been a show-
absence ranking, there is down against five-time
no guarantee of a seed- major champion Maria
ing, a policy which has Sharapova. The U.S. Ten-
been the subject of much nis Association says it does
debate in recent months intend to seed Williams for
because of Williams' status. the U.S. Open, which be-
The 36-year-old American gins in August. That is part
gave birth to a daughter of a new plan, first reported
last September and was by The New York Times, to
off the tour for more than a In this Saturday, July 9, 2016 file photo, Serena Williams of the U.S holds her trophy after winning take into account if a preg-
year. the women's singles final against Angelique Kerber of Germany on day thirteen of the Wimbledon nancy affected a player's
By moving Williams into Tennis Championships in London. ranking. "Pregnancy will
the top 32, the All England not be penalized," USTA
Club afforded her "protec- ships are a record for the one seeded No. 1 through termining seedings. That's spokesman Chris Widmaier
tion" from facing any other professional era, which No. 8 in the third round. The why, for example, eight- said. "If Serena Williams en-
seeded player in either of began in 1968. She missed draw for Wimbledon is Fri- time Wimbledon champion ters the 2018 U.S. Open, the
the first two rounds — and, Wimbledon in 2017, but day; play begins Monday. Roger Federer's success on USTA will recognize her ac-
of course, allowed the oth- won the title the last two Wimbledon and other grass courts was taken into complishments, recognize
er seeds to avoid facing times she was in the field, in Grand Slam tournaments account when the All Eng- her return to the workplace
her that early, too. Williams 2015 and 2016. Putting Wil- have leeway to stray from land Club bumped him up and will seed her, regard-
is a former No. 1 whose 23 liams at No. 25 now means strictly following the WTA a spot to No. 1 on Wednes- less of what her ranking
major singles champion- that she could face some- and ATP rankings when de- day, while top-ranked Ra- is."q

Murray beaten by fellow

Briton Edmund at Eastbourne

trying to gain information and the victory was his first were Steve Johnson of the
about where I'm at physi- against his "idol". United States and Argen-
cally and where my game "Beating Andy is a bit tine Leonardo Mayer.
is at." strange, he's always been Third-seeded Denis
Murray's defeat was his sec- my idol, and I've got to Shapovalov progressed af-
ond in three matches since know him well over the ter the Canadian teenager
his return from long-term years," Edmund said. "He's hit 11 aces to beat Jared
hip problems that sidelined always given me advice Donaldson of the United
Britain's Andy Murray returns to Britain's Kyle Edmund during day
four of the Eastbourne Tennis Tournament at Devonshire Park, him for almost a year. and I've looked up to him." States 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
Eastbourne, England, Wednesday, June 27, 2018. "There is no risk with me The quarterfinals will pit Ed- Fourth-seeded Marco Ce-
Associated Press playing tennis just now. It's mund against Kazahkstan's cchinato of Italy recorded
just whether I feel I'm able Mikhail Kukushkin, who the first grass-court win
EASTBOURNE, England tional on Wednesday as he to do myself justice," Mur- saved seven break points of his career, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
(AP) — Andy Murray re- continued his comeback ray said. "Two weeks ago to beat sixth-seeded David against 2015 finalist Denis
mains well below his best from injury. I practised with Kyle and Ferrer 6-2, 6-0. Istomin.
with Wimbledon less than Asked if he would know I didn't win a game. So I Top-seeded Diego In the women's draw, top-
a week away and the for- by the time the draw was have made decent im- Schwartzman was upset seeded Caroline Wozniacki
mer champion has still to made on Friday morning provements the last couple by Lukas Lacko, who tri- reached the quarterfinals
decide whether to bid for a whether he would play of weeks. umphed 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to by beating Johanna Konta
third title at the All England at Wimbledon, Murray re- "I want to be able to com- claim the biggest win of his 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Club. plied: "Yeah, probably. I'll pete properly. If I don't feel career. Konta had not dropped
The 31-year-old Scot lost chat with my team in the like I can do that, then I The Slovakian next faces a set against Wozniacki in
6-4, 6-4 to second-seeded next couple of days. won't play." wild card Cameron Norrie, their two previous meet-
Kyle Edmund in an all-British "I'll see how I pull up again. The 23-year-old Edmund who beat fellow Briton Jay ings at the 2017 Australian
clash in the second round I don't really anticipate any took over as Britain's No. 1 Clarke 6-4, 6-3. Open and the final of last
of the Eastbourne Interna- issues. With each match I'm while Murray was injured Other seeds to crash out year's Miami Open.q