‘It’s just not fair’: Cibulkova hits out at Wimbledon organisers over final seeding spot for Serena
Related Story: French Open's decision not to seed Serena could be catalyst for change Related Story: New mum Serena forced to do it the hard way after French Open seeding snub
Former Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova has hit out at Wimbledon organisers who gave the final seeding spot at the tournament to Serena Williams.
New mother Williams, who is only ranked 183rd in the world, secured the 25th seeding ahead of Cibulkova who is ranked 32nd.
Before the seedings were announced, Cibulkova told the BBC that seeding the former seven-time Wimbledon champion would be unfair.
"I don't think it's the right thing to do," she said.
"I think it's just not fair. I have tried and I should be seeded. If they put her in front of me then I will lose my spot that I am supposed to have.
"I was a former number four. Why should I not be seeded if I have the right to be?"
The All England Club usually follows the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, but it does have the right to make alterations in the interest of producing a "balanced draw".
Williams has played in three tournaments since her daughter Alexis was born in September last year.
She has been critical of the WTA ranking system and the disadvantages it places on women who take maternity leave.
Williams won Wimbledon in 2016 and her seeding this year means she will not face another big name at the All England Club until at least the third round.
She was not seeded for the French Open and had to face 17th seed Ashleigh Barty in the second round and 11th seed Julia Goerges in the third before pulling out in the lead-up to a fourth-round meeting with Maria Sharapova at Roland-Garros.
The announcement for seedings for Wimbledon comes a week after organisers of the US Open announced they would revamp its seeding process to protect women who return from maternity leave.
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