{"id":11521,"date":"2025-07-20T22:48:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T22:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/11521\/"},"modified":"2025-07-20T22:48:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-20T22:48:09","slug":"fans-dudded-as-novak-djokovic-and-jannik-sinner-opt-out-in-disastrous-14m-blow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/11521\/","title":{"rendered":"Fans dudded as Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner opt out in ‘disastrous’ $14m blow"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ATP tour<\/a> is once again facing questions about the unrelenting and gruelling tennis<\/a> schedule, after Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper all announced their withdrawals from the upcoming Toronto Masters on Sunday. And Spanish media is reporting that Carlos Alcaraz is set to join them in skipping the $14 million event.<\/p>\n

The Masters 1000 tournament – which serves as a traditional lead-up event to the US Open<\/a> – is set to take place next week in Canada, with a total of $14m up for grabs. But the tournament will be missing some serious star power, with four of the top six players in men’s tennis opting not to play.<\/p>\n

\"Novak<\/p>\n

Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner have both withdrawn from the Masters 1000 event in Toronto. Image: Getty<\/p>\n

World No.1 Sinner has opted to rest his right elbow, which he injured on his way to winning the Wimbledon title<\/a> for the first time. The Italian won the first Masters 1000 event of his career in Toronto in 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cWinning that title in Toronto two years ago was the start of a really special moment for me,” Sinner said in a statement. “But after speaking with my team, I have to recover.”<\/p>\n

Djokovic cited a groin injury for his withdrawal, which he also suffered at Wimbledon. The World No.6 slipped on the grass at the All England Club, but was able to continue and eventually lost in the semi-finals to Sinner<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Jannik<\/p>\n

Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-finals. (Photo by Frey\/TPN\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Jack Draper and Carlos Alcaraz also out<\/p>\n

And World No.5 Draper will miss both Toronto and the Cincinnati Masters next month because of a problem with his left arm. It means the top-ranked British star likely won’t have any hard-court warm-up events before the US Open begins on August 24.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter Wimbledon I picked up an injury in my left arm, nothing serious, but I have to make sure it recovers fully for the rest of the season,\u201d Draper posted on social media. \u201cUnfortunately, I won\u2019t be able to compete in Toronto and Cincinnati\u2026. See you in NYC!\u201d<\/p>\n

Later on Sunday, reports from local Spanish media stated that Alcaraz won’t play either. The World No.2 was runner-up to Sinner at Wimbledon<\/a>, and is reportedly prioritising rest and recovery to be fully-fit for the US Open.<\/p>\n

Tennis fans dudded by ‘unacceptable’ scheduling<\/p>\n

Tennis fans took to social media on Sunday amid the news about Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic and Draper not playing in Toronto. While many said they understood their decisions, there was still plenty of disappointment and frustration – particularly from fans in Toronto who’d already bought tickets.<\/p>\n

Many pointed out that Toronto and Cincinnati have both been increased to 12-day events this year, meaning the schedule has become even more packed. With the US Open now a three-week event due to the revamped mixed doubles program<\/a>, players need to be selective about when and where they play. But considering Toronto is a Masters 1000 event (the tier just below grand slams), some described it as “disastrous” and “unacceptable” for the ATP that so many top-10 players would withdraw.<\/p>\n

“I think it is time to address the gruelling schedule athletes must maintain during the season,” one person wrote. Another added: “I hope the ATP Tour takes a long, hard look at these 2-week Masters (especially Toronto and Cincy) and figures out how to ensure the top players participate. Just because players don\u2019t want to be in North America for 6-7 weeks (especially the European ones) doesn\u2019t mean the Canadian fans should suffer. Completely unacceptable.”<\/p>\n

Sinner Djokovic & Draper all out of Toronto this year…Every year it seems the Canadian event misses out on some of the big names with Cincinnati 1000 the week after… Djokovic hasn’t played in Canada since 2018! #ATP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 John Horn (@SportsHorn) July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

I think it is time to address the grueling schedule athletes must maintain during the season?!?!@WTA<\/a> @atptour<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Laffy Taffy (@winggirle) July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Gone are the days when in Toronto\/Montreal we had the top 10 in the tournament.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jonathan Riveros (@JonyHidalgo_) July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

I hope the @atptour<\/a> takes a long, hard look at these 2 week Masters (especially Toronto and Cincy) and figures out how to ensure the top players participate. <\/p>\n

Sinner, Alcaraz and Draper are young. Djokovic you can\u2019t blame and he\u2019s sustained an injury. Draper isn\u2019t playing Cincy\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tennis Connected (@TennisConnected) July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Tennis when it gets physical to the level of Alcaraz and Sinner, it\u2019s bound to break your bodies.
Unless you\u2019re Rafa Nadal, it\u2019s impossible to make n number of comebacks and win big tournaments.
ATP should lessen the workload of players<\/p>\n

\u2014 \ud83d\udc02 (@theBlackkSky) July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Sadly I don’t think that he’ll ever play Toronto\/Montr\u00e9al ever again<\/p>\n

\u2014 Nick (@RealxCR7) July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Djokovic, Sinner, Draper & now Alcaraz have all withdrawn from Toronto. Disastrous blow to any tournament much less a Masters 1000.<\/p>\n

\u2014 AAsarwar (@aasarwar7862) July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Withdrawals open door for Alex de Minaur<\/p>\n

However it does open up a huge opportunity for Australia’s Alex de Minaur<\/a>, who’s fallen down the rankings to World No.12. De Minaur is slated to play the DC Open in Washington this week, and has a golden opportunity to climb the rankings heading into the US Open.<\/p>\n

Because he didn’t play any lead-up events before last year’s US Open due to a hip injury, he isn’t defending any rankings points. That means any tournament he plays before the grand slam at Flushing Meadows will see him earn points.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole back end of the year I\u2019ve got very little to defend,\u201d he said after his exit from Wimbledon<\/a> in the fourth round. \u201cIt\u2019s opportunity after opportunity for me. I\u2019m hoping that the little bit of time off before (Wimbledon), a bit of time off after, I will put myself in a good position to finish the year strongly.\u201d<\/p>\n

However de Minaur has flagged being smarter about how many tournaments he plays after feeling burnt out after the French Open. How many events be plays heading into the US Open remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/p>\n

Can Alex de Minaur climb the rankings while his top rivals rest? (Photo by Mike Egerton\/PA Images via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

with agencies<\/p>\n