Seeding

On a simpler term, the seeding system is used so that the best players won’t be playing against each other on the first rounds its set to let the players meet in the final match up.

A competition can carry a format of 8, 16 or 32 seeds, on average they normally use 16 seeds and on major events, they’d use 32 seeds.

The seeding system plays a very important role in keeping the balance between the player matchups; if this system wasn’t in play most of the time the two best players that most of the time are the main reason for the crowd showing up to see their players compete in action would be over in just the first matchup. We would then have a half-full event after or even less and no one wants that, that would alter with the event in too many ways.

What Is A Seed In Tennis?

Most if not all the tournaments in tennis the competitive players would then receive a seed depending on their rankings. They would normally use your tennis winning history to rank you or the ATP and WTA rankings, this way would be a lot more accurate. Tennis players that are giving low seed are said to have higher rankings than the ones with the higher seed numbers.

The seeding system in tennis has been in play since the 19th century, this system was just a brilliant way of spreading talents all over. With the seed system, the top 2 players will not get matched up in the earlier rounds they would then be meeting up in the semi or finals.

Players can also be re-seeded in the event of the ones competing in the single-elimination rounds, the player with the lowest seed would then play the player with the highest surviving seed. In tennis the seeding system doesn’t normally take place on the day of the event it is done a week in advance or two.

Is Seeding Important In Tennis?

If the seed system wasn’t in play, a lot of tournaments wouldn’t be entertaining and most of them would be empty after the favorite has played. The seed system keeps the event alive and entertaining it prevents the two best players or team to face each other on the first matchups.

Other players or teams get a balance chance of winning against a higher-ranked player or team showcasing their talents and skills. Imagine going to a tournament that doesn’t use the seed system, you will feel as if you have not gotten your money’s worth out of entertainment.

A lot of times seeding are been questioned due to the different majors and how different they may rank a player some are straight forward and some are just not. All the Grand Slam events use a different way of giving seeds to their players; they are all similarly the same however different. The Wimbledon is said to have the hardest seeding placements that sometimes are questioned by players and fans however it cannot be changed.

Can Unseeded Players Win?

Yes, although it’s not a common thing to see, there are unseeded players that have won in the past. Take Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams, for example, one won the 2007 Australians Opens and one won the 2009 U.S Opens both were unseeded. Unseeded champions are not impossible in the Grand Slam events they are just not something you would see often.

Winning from the bottom is no easy task; it takes a lot of work and talent for you to knock out players that have higher ranking factor points than you. Players have been winning the Grand Slam events that are unseeded from a while back. Now check Mark Edmondson, he was unseeded as well and won the Australians Opens in 1976.

It’s common for players to perform on a high scale in the Grand Slam events winning; however, on another level you have to play on the best of your abilities and give it you’re all your talent won’t be unseen.

Grand Slam Seeding

The Grand Slam events are separated into four major tournaments each event has its seeding system. The method they use is very easy to understand.

The U.S Openings

The U.S Opening normally uses a simple seeding placement; the players in tennis normally get the highest seeds straight from the get-go. Absent females players coming off maternity leave can also get seeded if the committee sees fit.

The future of tennis is changing as we know it but changes are good and it will be bad at times because a player will be pushed out of the seeding safe spot.

The French Openings

The French Seeding method is the total opposite of the above mentioned one, they go straight by the books. An example of how struck they would be – the Serena Williams maternity leave; she was placed back with a seed in the U.S Opening however she was unseeded In the French Openings.

In the French Openings, it doesn’t matter the cause of the absence you will be ranked accordingly to their rules and rule book.

The Australian Open

This event is the first one to start the Grand Slam tournaments, they pretty much use the above two seeding factors in place. However, it’s not as stricken as the French Opening but also not as free-minded as the U.S Openings.

Wimbledon

The Wimbledon seeding is quite rare and unusual in the way how they place there seeding, some would say they are even difficult in the way of how they choose to rank and seed their players. The method the Wimbledon uses is only used by them alone none of the other 3 majors uses this format.

Because the playing field is grass-based, they would then ranked how well the players perform on their previous grass tournaments within a year span alongside players with the most points earned on a grass court tournament grounds. The next thing they would do is to use to players ATP or WTA in like a week or so before the draw, all that will be mixed to choose their seeding ranking.

The seeding system is popularly used in most sports, team and individual sports, it’s used in all the individual sports events out there to prevent the top players from meeting up in the very first round.

Without the seeding ranking factor, tennis events would be over within just a few hours or soon as the favorite tennis player plays.