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SportsSinner and Djokovic withdraw from Montreal Masters; tournament calls it 'absolute disaster'
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World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic have withdrawn from the National Bank Open in Montreal, an ATP Masters 1000 event running Aug. 1-13. The withdrawals are described as an 'absolute disaster' for the tournament, with Carlos Alcaraz also absent. Critics blame the new 12-day format for Masters events, arguing it discourages top players from participating. Sinner, who won five Masters titles in 2026, crashed out early at Roland Garros due to cramping after a heavy schedule but rebounded to win Wimbledon. Djokovic was defeated by Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals. The Cincinnati Open (Aug. 13-23) will feature Sinner, Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Alexander Zverev as the key warm-up for the U.S. Open (Aug. 30-Sept. 13).
Source report
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic have both withdrawn from the upcoming National Bank Open in Montreal, in what is being described as an “absolute disaster” for men’s tennis.
The ATP Masters 1000 event runs Aug. 1-13 and is traditionally the second-biggest warm-up, behind the Cincinnati Open, for the U.S. Open later this summer.
Sinner and Djokovic both withdrew in the wake of the new M1000 format at ATP Masters 1000 events, which extended Canada and Cincinnati to 12-day events as of last year. Madrid, Rome, and Shanghai all adopted that format in 2023.
“An absolute disaster for Montreal that Sinner, [Carlos] Alcaraz and Djokovic are all out for this year,” the @TennisConnected site posted on X/Twitter. “What is the point of a two-week Masters in Canada if none of the top players play?”
Jon Wertheim of Tennis Channel called the M1000 innovation a “fail[ure]” and said it was time to “cut bait.”
“This is an excellent event in an excellent city, that supports tennis. Montreal deserves better…,” he added.
Sinner, 24, won the first five Masters 1000 events of 2026, including two on hardcourts (Indian Wells and Miami) and three on clay (Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome). However, he then crashed out early at Roland Garros due to cramping issues, amid criticism that he had played too many events leading into Paris.
“This spring ~ the last time Sinner jammed in m1000s ~ he gassed out at the subsequent Major (RG),” Wertheim wrote.
Sinner rebounded to win Wimbledon, dominating Djokovic in the semifinals and topping Alexander Zverev in the final.
The withdrawals are a major loss for Montreal, while tennis fans can look forward to Sinner, Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Zverev all playing in Cincinnati next month.
Alcaraz will be playing his first event since he stepped away from the tour after Barcelona in April due to a right wrist injury.
After the Cincinnati Open (Aug. 13-23), the U.S. Open runs Aug. 30-Sept. 13.
Source
Forbes - BusinessWestern
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Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic Withdraw from Montreal Masters, Called 'Absolute Disaster'