Sinner Djokovic Canadian Open exits spark schedule reform call
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have withdrawn from the Canadian Open in Montreal, prompting tournament leaders to call for tennis schedule changes. Sinner cited prioritizing his health after winning Wimbledon, while Carlos Alcaraz is also out with a wrist injury—raising fresh longevity concerns for top players.
Key Takeaways
- Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have pulled out of the ATP Masters 1000 Canadian Open in Montreal.
- Sinner said he is withdrawing to prioritize his health after winning Wimbledon this month.
- Tournament director Valerie Tetreault is urging ATP talks on the demanding calendar and late withdrawals.
- Carlos Alcaraz will also miss Montreal while recovering from a wrist injury that has kept him out since April.
- Seven of nine Masters 1000 events now run over 12 days amid wider player-load concerns.
Why did Sinner and Djokovic withdraw from the Canadian Open?
According to BBC Sport, Sinner—who beat Alexander Zverev to claim the Wimbledon title this month—said he withdrew from the Montreal Masters to prioritise his health.
Djokovic has also pulled out of the same event. Tetreault noted that both stars also withdrew from last year's Canadian Open stop in Toronto, compounding disappointment for organizers and fans expecting the world's best.
Forbes reported that TennisConnected branded the absences—alongside Alcaraz—an “absolute disaster” for Montreal, asking what a two-week Masters is for if top players do not appear.
How does the congested calendar affect player longevity?
Athlete recovery sits at the heart of this story. The Canadian Open sits before the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, which begins on 30 August. Seven of the nine Masters 1000 events are now staged over 12 days, stretching a calendar that already spans about 11 months for elite players.
Sinner's recent arc illustrates the load. Forbes noted he won the first five Masters 1000 events of 2026 before an early Roland Garros exit linked to cramping and criticism that he had played too much into Paris. He then rebounded to dominate Djokovic in the Wimbledon semis and beat Zverev in the final—then chose rest over Montreal.
For readers following recovery science and career-length performance, that choice tracks with themes we cover in our Longevity & Biohacking hub: managing training stress, injury risk, and peak timing across a brutal season.
What schedule changes are Canadian Open organizers seeking?
Tetreault said organizers respect the players' decisions and understand that health must come first. She also argued that frequent last-minute withdrawals raise a broader issue for tennis, because Masters 1000 fans expect to see the top names.
“We are already in discussions with the ATP to ensure this matter received serious consideration,” she said, adding that adjustments are needed soon to protect Masters integrity while acknowledging player realities.
Similar friction has hit other events. Britain's Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu recently withdrew from Wimbledon with injuries, and Draper called the injury wave “pretty worrying.” Alcaraz previously warned that the calendar could “kill us in some way.”
Will the top stars still play before the US Open?
Forbes reported that tennis fans can still expect Sinner, Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Zverev in Cincinnati next month. Alcaraz's Cincinnati appearance would be his first since stepping away after Barcelona in April with a right wrist injury.
After Cincinnati, the US Open runs from late August into mid-September. Whether Montreal's appeal for reform reshapes the Masters calendar remains the open question hanging over men's tennis.