The tournament director of the Canadian Open has called for a review of the professional tennis schedule, citing player health concerns following the withdrawal of several top athletes from the Masters 1000 event.
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have both withdrawn from the upcoming Canadian Open, which takes place from August 2-13 in Montreal. Sinner, the recent Wimbledon champion, stated he withdrew to prioritize his health. Carlos Alcaraz will also miss the tournament as he continues to recover from a wrist injury sustained in April.
Valerie Tetreault, the tournament director, expressed disappointment over the absences, particularly noting that both Sinner and Djokovic also withdrew from the event last year when it was held in Toronto. "We respect their decisions and understand that, with such a demanding schedule, players' health must remain the priority," Tetreault said. "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 considered flagship tournaments on the ATP tour, and Tetreault emphasized that fans expect to see the top players compete. "Fans rightfully expect to see the world's best compete," she stated, adding that discussions are underway with the ATP to address the matter seriously. "We firmly 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."
The Canadian Open follows the Cincinnati Open, another Masters 1000 event, and precedes the U.S. Open, which begins on August 30. Concerns about the packed tennis calendar, which spans 11 months for top players, have been voiced frequently. This year, Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu also withdrew from Wimbledon due to injury, with Draper describing the number of injuries among leading players as "pretty worrying." In September 2024, Alcaraz himself commented on the demanding schedule, saying, "They are going to kill us in some way."
Similar issues have arisen in women's tennis. Earlier this year, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek withdrew from the Dubai Championships, a WTA 1000 event, just two days before it commenced. The tournament director for that event suggested docking points for late withdrawals, a proposal that drew criticism from Sabalenka.