The top-ranked Jannik Sinner and legendary 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic have officially withdrawn from the upcoming National Bank Open presented by Rogers.
Tennis Canada announced on Friday that neither of these star players will be seen competing in Montreal, despite being on the initial entry list for the ATP Masters 1000 event taking place at IGA Stadium from August 1-13.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, was absent from the roster as he continues to recover from a right wrist injury that already kept him out of the French Open and Wimbledon.
With Sinner and Djokovic out, French Open champion and Wimbledon runner-up Alexander Zverev will now be stepping up as the tournament’s top seed.
Local hero Félix Auger-Aliassime from Montreal will take the second seed, making French-Canadian history as the highest-seeded Canadian ever in the tournament.
The absence of Sinner, Djokovic, and Alcaraz—three of the most captivating figures in men’s tennis—echoes last year’s missed event in Toronto, which occurred just two weeks following Wimbledon. Organizers had hoped for fewer withdrawals this year, given the event’s timing three weeks after the All England Club finals.
Sinner articulated his thoughts in a statement provided by Tennis Canada: “After thoughtful discussions with my team, we’ve reached the tough decision to withdraw from Montreal. It’s never easy to step back from such a significant event, but we feel this is the best choice for my well-being. I’m disappointed to miss it, but I look forward to returning to Montreal in the future.”
The Italian prodigy Sinner, aged 24, along with the 39-year-old Djokovic, could potentially make their return at the Cincinnati Open, which kicks off the same day the National Bank Open concludes, in preparation for the U.S. Open later in August.
