Federer gets top seeding

London - Reigning Wimbledon champion Roger Federer will be the top seed at the grass-court grand slam despite losing the world number one spot to Rafael Nadal.

Federer was passed by Nadal in the world rankings after the Spaniard won the French Open earlier this month.

But Federer has won Wimbledon six times, including his dramatic final victory over Andy Roddick last year, so All England Club chiefs have decided to install the Swiss star as their number one seed ahead of Nadal.

Nadal, who was last year unable to defend the Wimbledon title he won in 2008 because of injury, is the second seed, while Novak Djokovic is the third seed and Britain's Andy Murray the fourth.

Three-time Wimbledon runner-up Roddick moves up to fifth seed due to his fine record on gras despite being ranked seventh in the world.

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, currently ranked 26 in the world, also receives a significant rise to the 15th seed spot after beating Federer on grass in the Halle final on Sunday.

In the women's singles, defending champion and world number one Serena Williams is the top seed, with her sister Venus Williams the number two seed.