​Aug 12, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Jannik Sinner (ITA) holds the winner’s trophy after defeating Alex De Minaur (AUS) (not pictured) in final round play at Sobeys Stadium. © Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY SportsThe Masters 1000 event in Canada (August 3-13) is on course for yet another edition without tennis’ biggest stars joining the line-up. While Carlos Alcaraz misses the tournament due to his ongoing injury recovery, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have simultaneously withdrawn as they prioritize rest and recovery after Wimbledon.The tournament director of the Montréal event, Valérie Tétreault, and Gavin Ziv, the CEO of Tennis Canada, have raised urgent concerns with the ATP, as the event continues to feel the impact of prolonged absences by many of the sport’s top players.Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic Trigger Alarm Bells After Canadian Open No-ShowGiven its close proximity to Wimbledon on the calendar, the Canadian Open has long felt the impact of player withdrawals, with those making deep runs at the grass-court Major often choosing to delay the start of their North American campaigns. Last year, the tournament was moved a week earlier, leaving players with barely two weeks to transition between surfaces.Sinner, who won his career’s first-ever Masters 1000 title at the Toronto event in 2023, skipped the 2025 edition after winning his first Wimbledon title. Alcaraz, who was the runner-up at SW19, and Djokovic, who had reached the semifinals, followed suit.While this year’s calendar offered an extra week between the two tournaments, that wasn’t enough to convince either Sinner or Djokovic, who replicated their last year’s results in London during the 2026 edition.In a hard-hitting statement, Tétreault said, “We are obviously very disappointed that Jannik and Novak won’t be joining us in Montréal this year, especially after they also withdrew from last year’s tournament in Toronto. We respect their decisions and understand that, with such a demanding schedule, players’ health must remain the priority. That said, we believe the frequency of these last-minute withdrawals in the last few years raises a broader issue for our sport.”The Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open were made to expand their main draws from 56 to 96 players in 2025, a scheduling change that has only exacerbated the issue of top-player withdrawals.“We are already in discussions with the ATP to ensure this matter receives serious consideration. 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,” Tétreault continued.Ziv echoed the sentiment. “As a national federation and the organizer of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, we have a responsibility to advocate for the interests of tennis and the fans who support our event year after year.”Djokovic, a four-time champion, hasn’t competed at the tournament after 2018. Despite ne