Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have withdrawn from next week's Canadian Open in Montreal, prompting tournament director Valerie Tetreault to call for urgent changes to the congested ATP calendar.
The world No. 1 Sinner, who defeated Alexander Zverev to claim his second Wimbledon title earlier this month, cited health priorities as he pulled out of the Masters 1000 event scheduled for August 2-13 in Montreal. Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, also withdrew, though no specific reason was given.
"We are obviously very disappointed that Jannik and Novak won't be joining us in Montreal this year," said 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."
Carlos Alcaraz will also be absent from the Canadian Open as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury that has kept him out since April, meaning three of the biggest names in men's tennis will miss the event.
Sinner's decision to skip Montreal also ends his bid for a unique achievement: winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 titles in a single season, a feat never accomplished in the Open Era. The Italian captured the Miami Open earlier this year before his Wimbledon triumph.
Seven of the nine Masters 1000 events now span 12 days, and the professional tennis calendar stretches across 11 months for the top players. Concerns have been mounting for years across the tour. In 2024, Alcaraz warned: "They are going to kill us in some way." More recently, Britain's Jack Draper, who withdrew from Wimbledon with a long-term arm injury, described the rate of injuries among leading players as "pretty worrying."
Tetreault confirmed the tournament is already in discussions with the ATP. "Masters 1000 events are among the flagship tournaments on the tour, and fans rightfully expect to see the world's best compete. We firmly believe adjustments are needed in the near future to better protect the integrity of our Masters 1000 events while remaining mindful of the realities players face."
The Canadian Open takes place before the Cincinnati Open, another Masters 1000, and the US Open — the year's final Grand Slam — which begins August 30 in New York.
Sources
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/cz641eng5l9o
- https://www.ubitennis.com/blog/2026/07/27/sinner-il-no-a-montreal-e-il-record-sfumato-notizie-e-clickbait-in-dieci-capitoli/
