The three top-ranked players cited scheduling conflicts and the need for rest after a demanding clay and grass court season as reasons for their withdrawals.
Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Sinner all made deep runs in the recent Grand Slams. Djokovic reached the semifinals, while Alcaraz and Sinner each claimed a title. World number 5 Jack Draper has also withdrawn from the Toronto Masters (Canadian Open) after a busy and successful summer.
 |
Djokovic (left) congratulates Sinner after their Wimbledon 2025 semifinal match on 13/7, at the All England Club Centre Court in London, England. Photo: Reuters |
Djokovic (left) congratulates Sinner after their Wimbledon 2025 semifinal match on 13/7, at the All England Club Centre Court in London, England. Photo: Reuters
The withdrawals are a blow to the Canadian Open organizers. The highest remaining seed is world number 3 Alexander Zverev, alongside other notable players like Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Holger Rune, and Lorenzo Musetti.
Alcaraz stated he needs more time to recover and hopes to return for the Cincinnati Masters on 8/8. Sinner is also likely to participate in Cincinnati to test his form before the US Open. Former Spanish player Alex Corretja supports Alcaraz's decision. He believes Alcaraz should be selective about tournaments to conserve energy for the latter part of the hard court season, where the 22-year-old has often struggled in previous years.
Djokovic's schedule for the rest of the season remains undisclosed. There is no confirmation yet about his participation in the Cincinnati Masters, a tournament he has frequently played in recent years. Djokovic could still play the US Open without any warm-up tournaments. In fact, this is a Grand Slam where he has not faced significant difficulties in recent years.
Djokovic is a four-time US Open champion, most recently in 2023, which is also his most recent Grand Slam title. However, before that, the 24-time major winner experienced a five-year drought at the event. Last year, Djokovic was eliminated in the third round after a surprising loss to Alexei Popyrin.
Vy Anh
