World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic have withdrawn from the Canadian Open, delivering another significant setback to the ATP Masters 1000 event in Montreal.
Tennis Canada confirmed Friday that neither player will compete in the tournament, which runs from 2-13 August. Both had been listed on the entry list. Carlos Alcaraz, the three-time major champion, was also absent from the player list as he continues his recovery from a right wrist injury that has kept him out since April.
Sinner, who won Wimbledon earlier this month by defeating Alexander Zverev in the final, released a statement explaining his decision. "After carefully considering all the factors together with my team, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw from Montreal," Sinner said. "It is never easy to miss such an important event, but we believe this is the right decision to prioritize my health. I'm disappointed not to be there, but I look forward to returning to Montreal in the future."
Tournament director Valerie Tetreault expressed disappointment at the withdrawals, especially after the trio of top players also missed last year's event in Toronto. "We respect their decisions and understand that, with such a demanding schedule, players' health must remain the priority," Tetreault said in a statement. "That said, we believe the frequency of these last-minute withdrawals in the last few years raises a broader issue for our sport. Masters 1000 events are among the flagship tournaments on the tour, and fans rightfully expect to see the world's best compete. We are already in discussions with the ATP to ensure this matter received serious consideration."
With Sinner and Djokovic out, Alexander Zverev will be the tournament's top seed, while Felix Auger-Aliassime will be seeded second — the highest-seeded Canadian in the event's history. Both Sinner and Djokovic could return at the Cincinnati Open, which begins as the Montreal event ends, ahead of the US Open starting on 30 August.
The withdrawals add to growing concerns about the congested tennis calendar. Seven of the nine Masters 1000 events are now staged over 12 days, and top players compete across 11 months of the year. Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu recently pulled out of Wimbledon with injuries, while Sabalenka and Swiatek withdrew from the Dubai Championships earlier this year.
Sources
https://apnews.com/article/montreal-sinner-djokovic-2379860c09af38750e23f3d17430e622 https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/cz641eng5l9o https://www.oasport.it/2026/07/jannik-sinner-ha-scelto-niente-atp-di-montreal-sfuma-la-suggestione-dei-9-masters-1000-in-un-anno/
