Full Breakdown
Top Players Skip Montreal Amid Growing Concerns Over Calendar Crowding
7/25/2026, 11:08:38 AM
Event Overview
On July 25, the Canadian Open announced that world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will not compete in the August 1-13 Masters 1000 tournament in Montreal. Their withdrawals follow similar absences by Carlos Alcaraz, who is still recovering from a wrist injury, and by the same trio from last year’s Toronto event.
Background and Schedule Pressures
Sinner withdrew to prioritize his health less than two weeks after defending his Wimbledon title, ending a chance to capture all nine ATP 1000 titles in a single season after winning the first five (Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome). Djokovic cited workload management. The broader tour faces criticism for an 11-month season and a 12-day format at seven Masters 1000 events, a schedule that has previously led to heat-related injuries during the Asian swing.
Official Responses
ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi defended the crowded calendar, stating that scheduling remains a player choice and the tour is working on incentives for an appropriate number of matches. The WTA indicated that athlete welfare is a top priority and that it is consulting its players’ council and board representatives to improve circuit structure and compensation in 2024.
Impact on the Season
The withdrawals leave the Montreal event without three of the sport’s top male players, potentially affecting fan attendance and broadcast interest. Similar scheduling concerns have prompted top women—Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek—to skip the Dubai Championships. Sinner, Djokovic, and Alcaraz are slated to return at the Cincinnati Open, using it as preparation for the US Open beginning on August 30.
Data Snapshot
- Players absent from Montreal: Jannik Sinner (world No. 1), Novak Djokovic (24 Grand Slam titles), Carlos Alcaraz (wrist injury).
- Recent missed events: Sinner, Djokovic, Alcaraz missed Toronto 2025; Sabalenka, Swiatek missed Dubai 2025.
- Sinner’s 2024 ATP 1000 record: 5 titles won, 4 remaining possible.
