The Canadian Open has expressed disappointment over the withdrawals of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic from next week’s tournament in Montreal, saying the recurring absence of leading players from ATP Masters 1000 events has become a wider concern for the sport.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew on Friday to prioritise his health, less than two weeks after successfully defending his Wimbledon title.
Meanwhile, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic opted to continue managing his playing schedule, leaving the tournament without two of its biggest attractions.
The event will also be without Carlos Alcaraz, who has been sidelined by a wrist injury since April. The three leading players also missed last year’s Canadian Open in Toronto.
Tournament director Valérie Tétreault said organisers respected the players’ decisions but were disappointed by their absence.
“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.
“We respect their decisions and understand that, with such a demanding schedule, players’ health must remain the priority.”
Tétreault added that the repeated late withdrawals from major ATP events had become a broader issue.
“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.”