Claims that this year's controversial new seeding system was the reason behind a number of high-profile withdrawals have been refuted by Wimbledon officials.

Gustavo Kuerten, Marcelo Rios, Mark Philippoussis, Richard Krajicek, Alex Corretja, Albert Costa, Magnus Norman and Nicolas Lapentti have already pulled out of the tournament and there is growing concern that the new 32-seeding system may be responsible for the spate of withdrawals.

A Wimbledon spokesman said: "Injuries in sport are a recurring problem and I don't think the problem is bigger than it has been in previous years.

"We have had a good reaction from the players about the new seeding system. I don't think they are unhappy about it, I think they have just had to pull out through injury."

In the past seedings have been decided upon by rankings but like Wimbledon's traditional seeding system, all Grand Slams will now use the system, which is decided on the basis of surface specialists.

Having already criticised the system in the past, the withdrawal of Kuerten, Corretja and Costa in particular comes as no real surprise.

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