Sampras, Graf Named Wimbledon’s Top Seeds; Muster Seeded Seventh

Despite his strong showing on grass last week, Thomas Muster was seeded seventh for Wimbledon, five spots below his world ranking.

Three-time defending champion Pete Sampras got the top seed Monday, followed by three-time champion Boris Becker at No. 2 and 1992 champion Andre Agassi at No. 3.

On the women’s side, defending and six-time champion Steffi Graf got the top seed. Monica Seles, returning to Wimbledon for the first time since her stabbing in 1993, was seeded No. 2.

Unlike other Grand Slam tournaments, the Wimbledon seeding committee reserves the right to deviate from the world rankings to take into account a player’s record on grass.

That was the case with Muster, a clay-court master who is ranked No. 2 in the world.

In four previous appearances at Wimbledon, the Austrian lost in the first round each time. He had never won a match on grass until this year.

Graf, who pulled out of this week’s Eastbourne tournament with a knee injury, was given the top women’s seed even though she is co-No. 1 with Seles in the world rankings.