The Canadian Open is facing a credibility crisis, and tournament officials are no longer staying quiet about it. Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have both confirmed they will sit out next month's Montreal event, joining an already injured Carlos Alcaraz on the withdrawal list and leaving organizers scrambling to sell the tournament to fans expecting the very best.
Tournament director Valerie Tetreault voiced her frustration openly, noting that both Sinner and Djokovic also skipped last year's edition in Toronto. While acknowledging that player health must remain a priority given the grueling schedule, Tetreault was clear that the frequency of late withdrawals from Masters 1000 events raises serious questions for the sport as a whole. She confirmed that discussions with the ATP Tour are already underway to address the issue.
Rule changes, however, appear unlikely. Stripping ranking points from players who skip mandatory events would almost certainly cause major friction between the tour and its biggest stars, and the ATP's current approach relies on financial incentives from bonus pool payments rather than punitive measures. For players of Sinner and Djokovic's stature, though, money has long stopped being the primary motivator.
Not everyone is criticizing Sinner's choice. Rick Macci, who famously coached Serena Williams, defended the decision on social media, arguing that the mental weight of being expected to win every single match creates a unique burden no other player currently carries.
Context matters here too. Sinner has played 47 matches in 2026, winning 44, but has competed in just two events since May. His early exit at Roland Garros, which many link to back-to-back clay tournaments beforehand, appears to have shaped a more selective approach heading into the US Open.
TennisDraw users flagging their US Open bracket picks may want to note just how locked in Sinner looks to arrive fresh and hungry in New York.
