Top players withdraw from Montreal event
The director of the Canadian Open in Montreal has called for adjustments to the demanding tennis schedule after several prominent players, including Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, withdrew from the Masters 1000 event. This marks the second consecutive year that Sinner, Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz have not participated in the tournament.
Sinner, who recently secured the Wimbledon title, announced his withdrawal to prioritise his health. Alcaraz is also absent as he recovers from a wrist injury that has kept him out of competition since April. Djokovic has been selective with his tournament appearances this year, having played only five events.
Valerie Tetreault, the tournament director, expressed disappointment regarding the withdrawals. She acknowledged the players’ decisions, stating that health must be a priority given the rigorous schedule. However, Tetreault highlighted that the frequency of these last-minute withdrawals in recent years points to a broader issue within the sport.
Concerns over demanding schedule
Tetreault emphasised that Masters 1000 events are key tournaments on the tour, and fans anticipate seeing the world’s best players compete. She confirmed that discussions are already underway with the ATP to address this matter seriously. The Canadian Open takes place before the Cincinnati Open, another Masters 1000 event, and precedes the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year, which begins on 30 August.
The tennis calendar is packed, with top players often competing for 11 months of the year. Seven of the nine existing Masters 1000 events are now staged over 12 days, leading to frequent concerns about the congested schedule. Earlier this year, women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek also withdrew from the Dubai Championships, a WTA 1000 event, shortly before its start.
The sentiment regarding the demanding schedule is not new. One report indicates that Alcaraz commented on the intensity of the schedule, saying, “They are going to kill us in some way.” British players Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu recently pulled out of Wimbledon due to injuries, with Draper noting that the number of injuries among leading players is concerning.
Calls for future adjustments
Tetreault firmly believes that adjustments are necessary in the near future. These changes aim to better protect the integrity of Masters 1000 events while also considering the realities faced by players. The ATP is expected to be involved in these discussions, as ensuring top players participate in a preferred number of tournaments has been an ongoing challenge.
The Canada Masters tournaments, which alternate between Toronto and Montreal for men’s and women’s events each year, are particularly affected by the schedule. They occur only a few weeks after Wimbledon and mark the beginning of an intense period of tennis for top players, including the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open.
With the withdrawals, the top three seeds in Montreal are now expected to be Alexander Zverev, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and Ben Shelton. Auger-Aliassime is considered a local favourite for the tournament.
Sinner’s withdrawal means he will not have the opportunity to achieve a Masters 1000 sweep this year, having already won the first five 1000 titles. He stated that the decision was made after careful consideration with his team to prioritise his health, expressing disappointment but looking forward to returning to Montreal in the future.
The tournament is scheduled to take place from 2-13 August.
Source: bbc.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter