Wimbledon is one of the biggest events in the tennis calendar. It is the only Grand Slam tournament played on grass, as well as the oldest, with a history dating back to 1877. Seeding did not exist in the tournament’s early editions, but was introduced in 1924. That initial system, however, looked very different to the one used today.
While the seeding format has changed considerably over the years, the underlying purpose has remained the same for more than a century. It is designed to prevent the leading players from meeting each other in the early stages of the competition. This not only creates a more balanced tournament but also benefits spectators, as it helps keep the biggest names in the draw for longer.
In this article, we explain how the Wimbledon seeding system works following the end of its controversial grass-court formula in 2021.
How Wimbledon Seeding Works
In 2002, Wimbledon introduced a seeding system for the men’s singles draw that favoured grass-court specialists. It started with each player’s ATP ranking points, then doubled the points they had earned at grass-court tournaments over the previous 12 months and added a further 75% of the points they had won at the best grass-court event from the year before that.
This, of course, meant the Wimbledon seedings did not always match the official ATP rankings. One of the most notable examples came in 2019, when Roger Federer was given the No. 2 seed despite being ranked No. 3 in the world. Rafael Nadal, who was world No. 2 at the time, was instead seeded third. A similar situation occurred in 2014, when world No. 1 Nadal was handed the No. 2 seed behind Novak Djokovic, who was ranked second in the ATP standings. Djokovic went on to win the tournament, while Nadal was eliminated in the fourth round.
Ahead of the 2021 Championships, Wimbledon announced that it would abandon the grass-court formula and instead use the standard ATP and WTA rankings, bringing it into line with the other three Grand Slam tournaments. The rankings used for the seedings are typically those published around one week before the tournament begins.
The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are placed at opposite ends of the draw, ensuring they cannot meet before the final. Seeds No. 3 and No. 4 are then randomly drawn into the remaining quarters, meaning they cannot meet each other or either of the top two seeds until the semi-finals. Seeds No. 5 to No. 8 are placed so they cannot face a top-four seed before the quarter-finals, with the remaining seeded players also spread throughout the draw.
Although the top few seeds are usually settled well before Wimbledon begins, there is often very little separating players lower down the rankings. A good run during the grass-court season can therefore be enough to move a player up several places before the seedings are confirmed, potentially resulting in a more favourable draw. Players on the edge of the top 32, in particular, often have plenty to play for, as securing a seeded place means they cannot face another seeded player in the opening two rounds.
Note: The seedings may not always exactly match the ATP or WTA rankings if one or more players in the world’s top 32 do not compete. For example, if a top-32 player withdraws through injury before the draw is made, the player ranked No. 33 would move up and become the No. 32 seed.
Men’s Singles Seeds 2026
| Seed | Player | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | Italy |
| 2 | Alexander Zverev | Germany |
| 3 | Félix Auger-Aliassime | Canada |
| 4 | Ben Shelton | United States |
| 5 | Alex de Minaur | Australia |
| 6 | Taylor Fritz | United States |
| 7 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia |
| 8 | Daniil Medvedev | Neutral |
| 9 | Flavio Cobolli | Italy |
| 10 | Alexander Bublik | Kazakhstan |
| 11 | Casper Ruud | Norway |
| 12 | Andrey Rublev | Neutral |
| 13 | Jiří Lehečka | Czech Republic |
| 14 | Luciano Darderi | Italy |
| 15 | Jakub Menšík | Czech Republic |
| 16 | Learner Tien | United States |
| 17 | Frances Tiafoe | United States |
| 18 | Francisco Cerúndolo | Argentina |
| 19 | Karen Khachanov | Neutral |
| 20 | Arthur Fils | France |
| 21 | Tommy Paul | United States |
| 22 | Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | Spain |
| 23 | Rafael Jódar | Spain |
| 24 | João Fonseca | Brazil |
| 25 | Arthur Rinderknech | France |
| 26 | Cameron Norrie | United Kingdom |
| 27 | Ugo Humbert | France |
| 28 | Brandon Nakashima | United States |
| 29 | Tomás Martín Etcheverry | Argentina |
| 30 | Alejandro Tabilo | Chile |
| 31 | Ignacio Buse | Peru |
| 32 | Matteo Arnaldi | Italy |
Women’s Singles Seeds 2026
| Seed | Player | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | Neutral |
| 2 | Elena Rybakina | Kazakhstan |
| 3 | Iga Świątek | Poland |
| 4 | Jessica Pegula | United States |
| 5 | Mirra Andreeva | Neutral |
| 6 | Amanda Anisimova | United States |
| 7 | Coco Gauff | United States |
| 8 | Elina Svitolina | Ukraine |
| 9 | Linda Nosková | Czech Republic |
| 10 | Karolína Muchová | Czech Republic |
| 11 | Belinda Bencic | Switzerland |
| 12 | Marta Kostyuk | Ukraine |
| 13 | Jasmine Paolini | Italy |
| 14 | Naomi Osaka | Japan |
| 15 | Diana Shnaider | Neutral |
| 16 | Iva Jovic | United States |
| 17 | Sorana Cîrstea | Romania |
| 18 | Ekaterina Alexandrova | Neutral |
| 19 | Anna Kalinskaya | Neutral |
| 20 | Maja Chwalińska | Poland |
| 21 | Marie Bouzková | Czech Republic |
| 22 | Leylah Fernandez | Canada |
| 23 | Emma Navarro | United States |
| 24 | Clara Tauson | Denmark |
| 25 | Elise Mertens | Belgium |
| 26 | Madison Keys | United States |
| 27 | Anastasia Potapova | Austria |
| 28 | Ann Li | United States |
| 29 | Alexandra Eala | Philippines |
| 30 | Emma Raducanu | United Kingdom |
| 31 | Donna Vekić | Croatia |
| 32 | Kateřina Siniaková | Czech Republic |
Road to Wimbledon
The grass-court season is relatively short, meaning players have only a handful of tournaments to fine-tune their game before arriving at the All England Club. Still, these events can significantly influence the rankings and help players secure a seeded place, as they all take place before Wimbledon finalises its seedings.
Perhaps the most important tournament in terms of impact on seeding is not actually played on grass. The French Open concludes just three weeks before Wimbledon. As a Grand Slam, it offers up to 2,000 ranking points for the winner. Making the quarter final earns 400 points, compared to 500 for winning the biggest of the warm-up events below. Consequently, a good run in France can give a player a real boost in the seedings.
Grass-Court Tournaments
Stuttgart Open (ATP)
The Stuttgart Open is the first ATP grass-court tournament after the French Open (clay). Formerly a clay tournament, it switched to grass to act as a Wimbledon warm-up in 2015.
Rosmalen Open (ATP & WTA)
Held in the Netherlands, the Rosmalen Open (aka Libéma Open) offers another early opportunity to gain confidence on grass. It is classified as an ATP 250 and WTA 250 event.
Halle Open (ATP)
The Halle Open is one of the most prestigious grass-court events outside Wimbledon. It regularly attracts many of the world’s highest-ranked male players, making it one of the strongest indicators of form heading into the Championships. As an ATP 500 event it offers significant ranking points so can be a crucial tournament for those seeking to improve their seeding.
Queen’s Club Championships (ATP & WTA)
The Queen’s Club Championships has long been regarded as one of the premier Wimbledon warm-up events. With a strong field and conditions similar to those found at SW19, a deep run can provide both valuable ranking points and confidence. It is another ATP 500/WTA 500 so can prove vital for players as they look to obtain a better seeding, and therefore draw, at Wimbledon.
Berlin Tennis Open (WTA)
The Berlin Tennis Open regularly features one of the strongest women’s fields of the grass-court season. As a WTA 500 event, which moved to grass in 2021, it provides significant ranking points ahead of Wimbledon.
Eastbourne International (WTA)
Played in the final week before Wimbledon on the English south coast, the Eastbourne International is the last opportunity for players to sharpen their game. Many competitors use it to build momentum, although others choose to rest before the year’s third Grand Slam begins. Due to scheduling it does not always impact seedings.