Organisers raise concerns over late pullouts after Sinner, Djokovic skip Montreal event

Organisers of the Canadian Open have voiced growing concerns over the increasing trend of last-minute withdrawals by top players, following the recent exits of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic from the upcoming Montreal tournament. The event, scheduled for August 1–13, is expected to lack major stars once again, raising questions about the sustainability of the current tennis calendar. Sinner, who recently retained his Wimbledon title, pulled out on Friday citing health reasons, while Djokovic opted to manage his workload ahead of the U.S. Open. Both players had also skipped last year’s Toronto event, marking another instance of high-profile absences from a key ATP 1000 tournament. Valerie Tetreault, the tournament director of the Canadian Open, expressed disappointment at the latest developments, noting that the repeated absence of top players from ATP 1000 events has become a pressing concern for the sport. She acknowledged the importance of player health but stressed that the frequency of these late withdrawals has raised broader issues regarding the integrity of the Masters 1000 series. “Masters 1000 events are among the flagship tournaments on the tour,” Tetreault said in a statement to Canadian media. “Fans rightly expect to see the world’s best compete.” The situation has intensified with the ongoing absence of Carlos Alcaraz, who has been sidelined since April due to a wrist injury. This means that the Montreal tournament will again be missing three of the sport’s top names, Alcaraz, Sinner, and Djokovic, following their combined absences from last year’s Toronto event. The lack of marquee players threatens to diminish the appeal of the tournament, which serves as a crucial warm-up for the U.S. Open. Tetreault confirmed that the Canadian Open organisers are engaging in discussions with the ATP to address the issue. “We 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 stated. However, the ATP did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters outside regular business hours. Sinner’s decision to withdraw from Montreal has drawn particular attention, given that he had the opportunity to complete a historic achievement by winning all nine ATP 1000 titles in a single season. He had already secured the first five at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome. His absence from Montreal adds further pressure on the ATP to reconsider its scheduling practices, which have come under fire from several players. Alexander Zverev, currently ranked second in the world, has publicly criticised the extended 12-day format used at seven ATP 1000 events, arguing that it places undue strain on players. Similar concerns have been raised across both the men’s and women’s tours, which operate on 11-month seasons. These issues became more pronounced during last year’s Asian swing, when extreme weather conditions led to multiple injuries and withdrawals. Beyond the ATP, the WTA has also faced scrutiny over player availability. Top-ranked players such as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have opted to skip this year’s Dubai Championships, citing the need to balance their schedules and recovery periods. The WTA has previously stated that athlete welfare is a top priority and that it listens to feedback from players through the Players Council and representatives on the WTA board to refine the calendar and enhance compensation in 2024. Despite the challenges, there is hope that the situation will improve in the coming months. Sinner and Djokovic are expected to return to competition at the Cincinnati Open in August, alongside defending champion Alcaraz. Their participation will provide a much-needed boost to the build-up for the U.S. Open, which begins on August 30. Whether this marks a turning point for the ATP and WTA in addressing scheduling concerns remains to be seen.