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Tennis Stars Withdraw: Montreal Masters Shaken
25 Jul
Summary
- Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic withdrew from the upcoming National Bank Open.
- Tournament director cited frustration with late, frequent withdrawals.
- Sinner won the 2023 National Bank Open; Djokovic is a four-time winner.
The National Bank Open in Montreal, a significant lead-in tournament for the U.S. Open, will proceed without World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. Tournament officials announced their withdrawals for the event scheduled for August 2-13, sparking concern over the frequency of late player pull-outs.
Sinner stated that the decision to withdraw was made to prioritize his health, despite the importance of the Masters 1000 event. Djokovic's reason for withdrawal was not immediately disclosed. Tournament director Valerie Tetreault voiced her disappointment, acknowledging player health concerns but emphasizing the need to address this broader issue with the ATP to ensure top players participate in flagship tournaments.
This marks another year of notable absences, as both players also withdrew from the previous year's Toronto tournament. Sinner is the defending champion of the National Bank Open, having won in 2023, while Djokovic has secured the title four times previously. The field will now see Alexander Zverev as the No. 1 seed, joined by other notable players like Ben Shelton and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
