World number one and Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner, alongside Novak Djokovic, have officially withdrawn from the National Bank Open in Montreal, a Masters 1000 event scheduled for August 2-13. The absence of two of the sport's biggest names has reignited debate about the congested ATP calendar.
Sinner said he was prioritising his health following his Wimbledon triumph over Alexander Zverev. The Italian's withdrawal means he cannot complete the Calendar Golden Masters — winning all nine Masters 1000 events in a single season — after triumphing in all five played so far in 2026, plus his Paris-Bercy title from late 2025 making it six consecutive Masters crowns.
The five-time Grand Slam champion will return to action in Cincinnati, where Carlos Alcaraz may also feature as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury that has kept him sidelined since April. Sinner loses no ranking points having also skipped the Canadian event last year.
"We are obviously very disappointed that Jannik and Novak won't be joining us in Montreal this year, especially after they also withdrew from last year's tournament in Toronto," said Canadian Open tournament director Valerie Tetreault. "We respect their decisions and understand that, with such a demanding schedule, players' health must remain the priority."
"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 receives serious consideration," Tetreault added.
Alexander Zverev will be the top seed in Montreal, with Felix Auger-Aliassime seeded second and Italy's Flavio Cobolli seeded seventh. The tournament precedes the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season starting August 30.
Sources
- [BBC Sport — Changes called for as Sinner and Djokovic withdraw from Canadian Open](https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/cz641eng5l9o)
- [Ubitennis — ATP Montreal: Sinner annuncia il forfait, addio record!](https://www.ubitennis.com/blog/2026/07/24/atp-montreal-sinner-e-djokovic-annunciano-il-forfait/)
