World No.1 Sinner and Djokovic withdraw from Montreal Open

The world's top two ranked men's tennis players, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, have withdrawn from the upcoming National Bank Open in Montreal, tournament officials announced on Friday, July 24. The withdrawals mark a significant blow to the ATP Masters 1000 event, which begins its main draw on Sunday, August 2, and serves as a key lead-in to the U.S. Open.

Sinner, the current world No. 1, cited health and recovery as his reason for pulling out. In a statement, he said that after careful consideration with his team, they made the difficult decision to prioritize his health. He expressed disappointment but said he looks forward to returning to Montreal in the future. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, did not provide a specific reason for his withdrawal. The Serbian last competed in the Canadian tournament in 2018.

The absence of both stars is a repeat of last year's event in Toronto, a point noted by tournament director Valerie Tetreault. While stating respect for the players' decisions and acknowledging the demanding schedule, Tetreault expressed clear disappointment. She said the frequency of such late withdrawals in recent years raises a broader issue for the sport,...