Without the Top Three: Montreal Loses Sinner, Djokovic, and Alcaraz
The US Open warm-up tournament will be without the season's three biggest names, making Germany's Zverev the top seed.
The US Open warm-up tournament will be without the season's three biggest names, making Germany's Zverev the top seed.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 39-year-old Serb Novak Djokovic have withdrawn from the ATP Masters 1000 event in Montreal, scheduled for August 2-13, 2026. They join Carlos Alcaraz, who had already pulled out, meaning the sport's three most prominent figures will skip one of the key tournaments ahead of the season's final Grand Slam, the US Open.
The withdrawals come right after Wimbledon, where Sinner claimed the title. The Italian defeated Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, in the semifinals on grass, then triumphed in the final. Fatigue from a demanding grass-court campaign seems a logical reason for skipping Montreal, though no official reasons for Sinner's and Djokovic's decisions have been announced.
With Sinner out, Germany's Alexander Zverev, currently world No. 2, will be the top seed in Montreal. Zverev has been in excellent form this season, having won Roland Garros and reached the Wimbledon final. The second seed will be Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who will have the home crowd behind him.
The ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Montreal, also known as the Canadian Open, has traditionally been one of the most important events of the North American summer hard-court season. The tournament alternates between Montreal and Toronto, and players use it to prepare for the US Open, which takes place in late August and early September in New York. The absence of the three biggest names significantly shifts the balance of power and opens the door for lower-ranked players.
For the 39-year-old Djokovic, careful scheduling is becoming increasingly crucial. The Serbian veteran remains competitive at the highest level with 24 Grand Slam titles, but he is increasingly selective about which tournaments he plays to stay fresh for the biggest events. His semifinal loss to Sinner at Wimbledon was another sign that the younger generation is increasingly dominating the top of the ATP rankings.
Sinner, who holds the world No. 1 ranking, has been playing exceptionally this season. The Wimbledon title confirmed his dominance. Skipping Montreal is likely a strategic move to be as fresh as possible for the US Open, a hard-court event that suits his game. The impact on the ATP rankings will depend on the points he was defending from last year's Montreal appearance, though those details are not available.
The Montreal tournament from August 2-13, 2026, will be without the season's three biggest stars, making it wide open and unpredictable. Zverev, in superb form, is the main favorite, while Auger-Aliassime has a chance to shine in front of his home fans. The US Open, which follows in late August, remains the primary goal for Sinner, Djokovic, and Alcaraz as the season winds down.
