Rafael Nadal, Seeded No.5 for Wimbledon 2013. Is someone having a giraffe?

Forgive my cockney East London undertones blog readers, but is anyone finding it quite bizarre that Rafael Nadal is likely to be seeded No.5 in the men's draw as he sets out on his 2013 Wimbledon campaign next week?

Now I  accept the fact that as it stands Rafael Nadal is ranked No.5 in the world based on the vagaries of the ATP Ranking system.  Obviously having an enforced 7 month lay off with a serious knee injury hasn't helped Rafa's cause.  Then there is of course a small matter of Rafa's performance at Wimbledon last year, which we now know was probably largely due to the fact Rafa could barely stand on his legs, let alone return Lukas Rosol's missiles that day.

If we assess Rafa's performance since he has returned to grace the tennis courts around the world back in February this year however, a defence lawyer representing the ATP Ranking Systems would likely struggle to present a case in a court of law justifying Rafa's current No.5 ranking, based on Rafa's performance alone.

Let's assess the facts:

1) Since returning to the ATP Tour back in February, Rafa has won 43 matches and only lost 2.
2) He has won 8 titles and has been a finalist in the two other tournaments he has competed in.
3) Just over a week ago  he won the French Open Grand Slam title for the 8th time, making him the first male to achieve that feet in any Grand Slam tournament.
4) Rafa is the first player on the tour to qualify for the end of season ATP World Tour Finals at the O2

If that's the form of the no.5 ranked player of the world, I reckon the my jaw should drop to the floor in astonishment at the peformance of the no.1 ranked player of the world.  Now I grant you the current World No.1 Novak Djokovic's play has on many occasion left my jaw dropping to the floor in astonishment, but Novak's current match record this year is 30 victories, 5 loses, and 3 tournament wins.

What seems even funnier is the fact David Ferrer, the finalist of the French Open this year went up the rankings following his fantastic run to the final this year.  Who did he overtake in those rankings? You've guessed it! The now No.5 ranked player in the world Rafael Nadal, whom Ferrer happened to lose to in the French Open final.

All this simply highlights the ludicrousness of the ATP Ranking System at times. A player is not rewarded  for the here and now, but is very much dependent on the past as well and the defending of ranking points.

We now have to face the fact Rafa could be playing Novak, Andy or Roger in the Quarter Final of Wimbledon, assuming they all make it to that round. I'm sure Rafa's adversories are overjoyed by the prospect of playing Rafa before the semi-finals of a  tournament.  I reckon we should probably all settle down that day for a night under the Wimbledon roof.  No doubt we will have fun watching a match between Rafa and any of his three main adversories, but you couldn't help but think at the back of your mind that a quarter final seems too early.