The Canadian Open men's draw is taking a significant hit. Carlos Alcaraz has announced his withdrawal from the Toronto tournament, citing muscle issues and the need to recover after several consecutive weeks of competition. The world number two joins a staggering list of absentees: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper will also miss the event.
Four of the world's top six players will therefore skip the first Masters 1000 of the North American swing, scheduled for August 3-10. Sinner, the world number one, is prioritising rest after a demanding season. Djokovic is nursing a quad injury sustained at Wimbledon. Draper, ranked fifth, has an arm injury and prefers not to take risks before the end of summer.
Carlos Alcaraz explained his decision in a statement: after his title in Monte-Carlo, his victory in Rome, and his Wimbledon final, the Spaniard has played week after week without respite. At twenty-three, he is prioritising long-term body management over tournament accumulation.
This exodus completely reshapes the tournament hierarchy. Alexander Zverev, the recent Roland-Garros champion, becomes the logical favourite. Andrey Rublev, fresh from his Bastad title on Sunday, could also thrive on Canadian hard courts. The tournament nonetheless retains appeal with the confirmed presence of Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz.
On the women's side, the draw is better preserved. Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff have all confirmed their participation. Only Victoria Mboko, the defending champion, is out due to a knee injury that had already kept her from Wimbledon.
The phenomenon is not new: the compressed calendar between Wimbledon and the Canadian Open, now just two weeks apart, forces players to make tough choices. Toronto risks paying the price of a schedule deemed too intense by the sport's elite.
