The Canadian Open is speaking out after two of tennis’s biggest names announced they will not compete in next week’s Montreal tournament, with organizers saying the repeated absence of elite players from major events has become a growing concern for the sport.
World number one Jannik Sinner announced his withdrawal on Friday, citing his health as the priority — coming less than two weeks after he successfully defended his Wimbledon title. Meanwhile, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic also pulled out as he continues to manage his workload heading into the U.S. Open season.
The situation is further complicated by the ongoing absence of Carlos Alcaraz, who has been out since April with a wrist injury. That means the August 1-13 tournament will be missing the same trio of top stars who also skipped last year’s edition of the event, which was held in Toronto.
Tournament director Valerie Tetreault released a statement addressing the back-to-back withdrawals. “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,” she said.
Tetreault acknowledged that player health must come first given the demands of the professional tennis schedule. “We respect their decisions and understand that, with such a demanding schedule, players’ health must remain the priority,” she said.
However, she made clear that the broader pattern cannot be ignored. “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,” Tetreault added.
In her statement to Canadian media, Tetreault confirmed that organizers are in ongoing talks with men’s governing body the ATP, pushing for the issue to receive “serious consideration” going forward. “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,” she said. The ATP had not responded to a request for comment as of the time of reporting.
Sinner’s withdrawal drew particular attention because the world number one had a rare opportunity to win all nine ATP 1000 titles in a single season, having already captured the first five at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome.
His pullout also renewed debate about the sport’s packed calendar. World number two Alexander Zverev has been among the players critical of the expanded 12-day format now used at seven ATP 1000 events. More broadly, both the men’s and women’s tours have faced ongoing criticism over their 11-month seasons. Last year’s “Asian swing” of events drew particular scrutiny when extreme heat and humidity contributed to a wave of injuries and withdrawals.
The issue of player availability is not limited to the men’s game. Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek were among the leading women who skipped this year’s Dubai Championships as they managed their schedules and recovery needs.
ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi defended the busy calendar last year, saying players have a choice in how they schedule their seasons and that the tour is working to create clearer incentives to ensure the right number of matches are played throughout the year. The WTA has previously stated that athlete welfare is a top priority and that it actively considers player feedback through its council and board representatives to improve the circuit structure and increase compensation.
Despite the Montreal absences, Sinner, Djokovic, and defending champion Alcaraz are all expected to compete at the Cincinnati Open next month as they prepare for the year’s final Grand Slam, which gets underway in New York on August 30.
