There were no major surprises this year as the All England Club released the seeds for the 2009 Wimbledon tournament.

Both the men’s and women’s lists almost mirror the top 16 ATP world rankings as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray top the men’s seeds respectively.

There were suggestions that 5 times winner Federer would head the list again this year following his French Open win, coupled with a niggling injury to 2008 champion Nadal. But with the Spaniard back in action this week he enters the tournament as top seed and still world number 1.

Nadal was forced to withdraw from Queen’s Club last week with knee trouble and underwent intense rehabilitation in Barcelona.

However, the 23-year-old looks on course to defend his Wimbledon title after coming through a practice session on Tuesday. He trained at the Aorangi Park practice courts following his arrival in London earlier that day.

The ‘King of Clay’ will ensure he is fit with exhibition games at London’s Hurlingham Club on Thursday and Friday in preparation for Wimbledon, as he bids to be recognised as the best grass court player in the world with the defence of his ’08 title.

Predictably, Dinara Safina tops the women’s pile with Williams duo Serena and Venus completing the top three correspondingly.

Beaten French Open finalist Safina will begin the tournament as favourite in a top ten dominated by Russian representatives as compatriots Elena Dementieva, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva and Nadia Petrova also feature in the top ten.

One notable Russian who doesn’t make the top 10 however is Maria Sharapova. The 22-year-old beauty has had a troubled year with a shoulder injury and lack of participation has seen her fall as low as 126 in the world rankings.

Despite her low ranking, Sharapova is still held in high regard by the All England Club and she will look for another Wimbledon triumph as 24th seed, and some book makers have given her odds in the region of 6/1 to do just that.

The draw for the tournament will be made on Friday 19th and fixtures commence on Monday 22nd, the full list of seeds is as follows:

Men’s seeds:

1. Rafael Nadal (Spa)
2. Roger Federer (Swi)
3. Andy Murray (GB)
4. Novak Djokovic (Srb)
5. Juan Martin del Potro (Arg)
6. Andy Roddick (USA)
7. Fernando Verdasco (Spa)
8. Gilles Simon (Fra)
9. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Fra)
10. Fernando Gonzalez (Chl)
11. Marin Cilic (Cro)
12. Nikolay Davydenko (Rus)
13. Robin Soderling (Swe)
14. Gael Monfils (Fra)
15. Marat Safin (Rus)
16. Tommy Robredo (Spa)
17. David Ferrer (Spa)
18. James Blake (USA)
19. Rainer Schuettler (Ger)
20. Stanislas Wawrinka (Swi)
21. Tomas Berdych (Cze)
22. Feliciano Lopez (Spa)
23. Ivo Karlovic (Cro)
24. Radek Stepanek (Cze)
25. Dmitry Tursunov (Rus)
26. Jurgen Melzer (Aut)
27. Philipp Kohlschreiber (Ger)
28. Mardy Fish (USA)
29. Igor Andreev (Rus)
30. Viktor Troicki (Srb)
31. Victor Hanescu (Rom)
32. Albert Montanes (Spa)

Women’s seeds:

1. Dinara Safina (Rus)
2. Serena Williams (USA)
3. Venus Williams (USA)
4. Elena Dementieva (Rus)
5. Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus)
6. Jelena Jankovic (Srb)
7. Vera Zvonareva (Rus)
8. Victoria Azarenka (Bls)
9. Caroline Wozniacki (Den)
10. Nadia Petrova, (Rus)
11. Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol)
12. Marion Bartoli (Fra)
13. Ana Ivanovic (Srb)
14. Dominika Cibulkova (Svk)
15. Flavia Pennetta (Ita)
16. Zheng Jie (Chi)
17 Amelie Mauresmo (France)
18. Samantha Stosur (Aus)
19. Na Li (Chi)
20. Anabel Medina Garrigues (Spa)
21. Patty Schnyder (Swi)
22. Alize Cornet (Fra)
23. Aleksandra Wozniak (Can)
24. Maria Sharapova (Rus)
25. Kaia Kanepi (Est)
26. Virginie Razzano (Fra)
27. Alisa Kleybanova (Rus)
28. Sorana Cirstea (Rom)
29. Sybille Bammer (Aut)
30. Agnes Szavay (Hun)
31. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Rus)
32. Anna Chakvetadze (Rus)

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