Wimbledon 2022: Notable absentees from the entry list ft. Roger Federer, Leylah Fernandez, Serena Williams & more

Despite the WTA and ATP's decision to strip the 2022 Wimbledon Championships of ranking points in the wake of the tournament's ban on Russian and Belarusian players, most top names feature on the entry lists for the grasscourt Major.

World No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic is set to be the top men's seed, while Iga Swiatek will lead the women's field.

Fans will, however, miss out on watching some of the Championships' most famous winners this year.

Here are the high-profile absentees from the entry list for the 2022 edition of Wimbledon:

#5 Russian & Belarusian players

Daniil Medvedev at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships.

Wimbledon's ban on Russian and Belarusian players would result in the likes of Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Aryna Sabalenka missing the tournament. Last year's semifinalist Karen Khachanov is also barred from participating.

The WTA has a total of eight Russian and two Belarusian players, including Daria Kasatkina and Aliaksandra Sasnovich who, under normal circumstances, would have made the cut for the main draw.

On the ATP side, four Russians and Belarus' Ilya Ivashka will miss out.

#4 Leylah Fernandez

Leylah Fernandez sustained an injury at the French Open.

Last year's US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez recently announced an injury-induced three-week hiatus, which effectively rules her out of this year's Wimbledon Championships.

The youngster suffered a Grade 3 stress fracture to her right foot and is not expected to feature before the Citi Open in Washington, which starts on 1 August.

#3 Venus Williams

Venus Williams has not played since August last year.

Venus Williams, who last played a competitive match in August 2021, hinted at an imminent comeback to the tour in a social media interaction earlier this year.

And while many thought that Wimbledon — the tournament where the American has had her best results over the years — made for the perfect stage for her return, Williams has chosen not to participate.

#2 Roger Federer

Roger Federer at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships.

Roger Federer, an eight-time Wimbledon champion, will not feature in the 2022 edition of the tournament.

Earlier this year, the 40-year-old said he planned to make his ATP tour return in his home event, the Swiss Open, in October.

Federer underwent multiple knee surgeries at the end of last year and only recently resumed training. The Swiss player's decision to extend his break and allow his body more time to recover looks like a well-calculated one.

#1 Serena Williams

Serena Williams last played a competitive match at last year's Wimbledon.

Several tennis fans and experts expected Serena Williams to resume her quest for an elusive 24th Grand Slam title on the hallowed lawns of the All England Tennis Club. However, with Williams' name not featuring on the initial entry list, chances are that they will have to wait a bit longer. She could, however, enter as a wildcard at a later date.

Williams sustained a foot injury during her opening match against Sasnovich at the Championships last year and has not played since. Her plans for a comeback remain unclear.