Eight-time champion Roger Federer was confirmed as the second seed for Wimbledon on Wednesday, bumping Rafael Nadal down to third despite being ranked below the Spaniard.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic tops the draw while new world number one Ash Barty is top seed in the women’s singles.

South African Kevin Anderson, runner-up to Djokovic last season, is fourth seed despite falling to eighth in the ATP rankings as Wimbledon used its special formula once again.

Twice Wimbledon champion Nadal will be seeded three, meaning he is likely to have to beat both Federer and Djokovic to claim his first title at the All England Club since 2010.

The Spaniard was critical of the Wimbledon’s seedings formula this week, saying “it’s not a good thing” that the grasscourt event is the only one of the four Grand Slams that does not stick rigidly to ATP rankings for seedings.

“Obviously it would be better to be two than three but if they think I have to be three I will accept three and fight to win the matches I have to win,” Nadal told Spanish television channel Movistar on Monday.

“The only thing that doesn’t seem right about this issue is that it is only Wimbledon that does it. If they all did it, it would seem more correct.

“It’s not only about my particular case. There have been many occasions when players have played well all year on all surfaces but Wimbledon does not respect the ranking they have earned.”

Wimbledon uses form over the past 24 months on grass to tweak the positions of the top 32 players in the men’s draw.

While the women’s seedings are in line with the WTA rankings, Wimbledon reserves the right to change the order to create “a balanced draw”.

Anderson’s promotion is bad news for French Open runner-up and world number four Dominic Thiem who drops to fifth seed and could play Djokovic, Federer or Nadal in the last eight.

Former runner-up Marin Cilic moved up from a world ranking of 18 to the 13th seeded spot.

Defending champion Angelique Kerber is seeded fifth with seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams down in 11th.

Last year the American was bumped up to 25th seed despite being ranked 183rd after returning to the Tour following the birth of her daughter.

Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo, the 2017 champions, lead the doubles field, with 2015 titlists Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau named fifth seeds.

Three-time former titlists Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan are seventh seeds. Last year, Mike Bryan joined forces with Jack Sock, in the absence of brother Bob due to injury, and beat Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus in a five-set final.

Meanwhile, Kerber eased into round three of the Eastbourne International as Kiki Bertens, Johanna Konta, Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep also reached the last 16 on Tuesday.

Kerber made the semi-finals at the Mallorca Open last week to kick off her grass court season and will be hopeful of claiming her first title of the year in Eastbourne, where she has twice reached the final.

Her opponent Sam Stosur was one of a host of players playing two matches in the one day after rain interrupted Monday’s schedule.

The veteran Australian had seen off American Sofia Kenin in round one, but had no answer to Kerber’s power as the German fired 15 winners in a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

Bertens was also in commanding form as the number three seed saw off Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 6-1.

Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki won in straight sets too, beating Andrea Petkovic, 6-4, 6-4, to set up a rematch of last year’s final against Aryna Sabalenka.

Agencies