“Sinner and Djokovic withdraw from the National Bank Open due to schedule management.”

The 2026 National Bank Open has suffered a significant setback before it even begins, with the withdrawal of two of the biggest stars in world tennis. Jannik Sinner, the world number one, and Novak Djokovic, holder of 24 Grand Slam titles, announced their absence from the tournament set to start on August 1 in Montreal. Both justified their decision by citing the need to manage physical fatigue during a particularly demanding season, prioritizing preparation for the US Open.

Sinner and Djokovic, who faced each other in the Wimbledon semi-finals on July 10, with Sinner competing in the final at SW19 on July 12, had only about three weeks to recover before the start of the National Bank Open. The absence of both, along with the already confirmed withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz due to a wrist injury, leaves the tournament lacking much of its luster, even though it is a Masters 1000 event, just one tier below the Grand Slams.

This growing wave of withdrawals follows the ATP's decision to extend Masters 1000 tournaments to two weeks, a measure aimed at increasing revenue and providing more opportunities for lower-ranked players. However, this new format, despite including rest days, requires a greater time commitment from athletes, a situation criticized by Sinner and Djokovic regarding the overloaded calendar.

In the past, the absence of stars at Canadian tournaments had already been observed, with Alcaraz, Sinner, and Djokovic not participating the previous year due to the proximity of the events to Wimbledon. The hope of the organizers, expressed by the tournament director of Montreal, Karl Hale, in the podcast Nothing Major, rested on the three-week gap between the two tournaments, which would allow for the presence of the best players.

Following the confirmation of the withdrawals, the director of the National Bank Open, Valerie Tetrault, expressed understanding regarding the players' choices. “We are obviously very disappointed that Jannik and Novak will not be with us this year in Montreal, especially after their withdrawals last year in Toronto. We respect their decisions and understand that, with such a demanding schedule, player health must be the priority,” Tetrault stated.

With the main figures absent, the tournament opens doors for other players to earn valuable points and improve their standings for the US Open. Local fans are now pinning their hopes on a strong performance from home favorite Félix Auger-Aliassime, who could keep the public's interest in an event devoid of some of the biggest stars in world tennis.