Why Jack Sinner and Novak Djokovic Skipped Montreal

Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic will not play at the 2026 National Bank Open in Montreal, removing the reigning Wimbledon champion and the most successful men’s Grand Slam player from one of the final major preparation events before the US Open.

Sinner has publicly said he made the decision with his team to protect his health. Djokovic has not disclosed a specific injury or detailed medical reason. His withdrawal, however, fits the increasingly selective schedule of a 39-year-old champion whose remaining priorities center on Grand Slam tournaments.

Their absence changes the Montreal draw, but the more important story sits behind the withdrawals. Elite players are making harder calculations about recovery, preparation, ranking points and the physical cost of an extended tennis calendar. A Masters 1000 title still carries prestige. Arriving at the US Open healthy may carry considerably more value.

Sinner and Djokovic’s Montreal Withdrawals at a Glance

Why Did Jannik Sinner Withdraw From Montreal?

Sinner provided the clearest public explanation. The Italian said he and his team considered the relevant factors before deciding that protecting his health was the correct choice.

The wording is important. Sinner did not announce a newly diagnosed injury. His statement referred more broadly to health management, suggesting a preventive decision rather than confirmation of a serious physical problem.

That approach makes sense after his demanding Wimbledon campaign. As detailed in The Sports Encounter’s complete review of Sinner’s Wimbledon title defense, the 24-year-old began the tournament with a five-set struggle before progressing through the draw and defeating Djokovic and Zverev in his final two matches.

Winning a Grand Slam creates a workload that goes far beyond the seven official matches. Players repeatedly train, receive treatment, attend media sessions and manage the emotional strain of competing every two days. The body absorbs thousands of accelerations, sudden stops, changes of direction and rotational movements across the tournament.

Sinner’s title run culminated in a four-set final against Zverev. That victory delivered his fifth Grand Slam title and a second consecutive Wimbledon championship. His broader position within the tournament was examined throughout The Sports Encounter’s Wimbledon quarterfinal coverage, where his ability to absorb pace and control matches had already made him the central favorite.

Montreal therefore presented a choice. Sinner could pursue another Masters 1000 title and gain immediate hard-court match practice, or he could protect the physical condition that will matter more when the US Open begins.

His team chose recovery.

Why Did Novak Djokovic Withdraw From Montreal?

Djokovic’s situation requires greater caution because no specific medical explanation has been made public. It would be irresponsible to invent an injury or present scheduling analysis as confirmed fact.

What is known is that Djokovic completed another physically demanding Wimbledon campaign at age 39. He survived a five-set quarterfinal against Felix Auger-Aliassime before losing to Sinner in straight sets in the semifinals.

The quarterfinal’s physical and emotional demands were a major part of The Sports Encounter’s analysis of Djokovic’s pursuit of an eighth Wimbledon title. He had to recover from an exceptionally long match before facing the defending champion, who gave him little opportunity to shorten rallies or regain control.

At this stage of Djokovic’s career, recovery has become part of competition strategy. He does not need another ordinary tour victory to strengthen his historical standing. His calendar is increasingly shaped around the tournaments capable of changing his legacy.

That makes the US Open far more important than Montreal.

Djokovic must weigh the benefits of match practice against the possibility that several hard-court matches could leave him physically depleted. Younger players often build confidence through repeated competition. Djokovic has enough tactical memory, return quality and match experience to reach his best level without playing every available warm-up event.

Skipping Montreal also allows him to control his training environment. Practice sessions can be shortened, intensified or stopped depending on how his body responds. Tournament matches offer no such flexibility.

Why Montreal Became the Tournament to Sacrifice

The National Bank Open remains a prestigious ATP Masters 1000 tournament. Its place in the schedule, however, makes it one of the most difficult events for leading players to prioritize.

Players who go deep at both the French Open and Wimbledon have already spent several weeks competing across clay and grass. They must then move to North America, adjust to outdoor hard courts and prepare for another sequence of major tournaments.

The transition affects nearly every part of a player’s game:

• Grass rewards lower movement and shorter exchanges, while hard courts demand repeated braking and lateral recovery.
• The ball bounces higher and more predictably on hard courts.
• Summer heat and humidity increase the physical cost of longer rallies.
• Travel across time zones affects sleep, recovery and training schedules.
• Deep runs in Montreal and Cincinnati can leave little margin before New York.

The expanded Masters format adds another layer. More tournament days may provide rest between some rounds, but they also extend the period in which players must remain mentally and physically engaged.

Fans can follow the full schedule, draw announcements and player updates through the official National Bank Open website.

Does Skipping Montreal Hurt Sinner’s US Open Preparation?

There is a trade-off. Competitive hard-court matches would help Sinner recalibrate his movement, return position and rally timing after Wimbledon. Practice cannot fully recreate the pressure of saving break points or closing a tight set.

However, additional matches do not automatically produce better preparation. A player can arrive in New York with excellent timing but reduced physical reserves. Another can enter with fewer matches and greater explosiveness.

Sinner’s game should also transfer efficiently to hard courts. He takes the ball early, controls the baseline and uses compact strokes that allow him to redirect pace. His success across different surfaces was one of the defining themes in The Sports Encounter’s breakdown of the leading Wimbledon seeds.

Cincinnati now becomes the crucial indicator. Playing there would suggest Montreal served as a deliberately selected recovery period. Missing both Masters events would create more concern about his condition and leave him without competitive matches between Wimbledon and the US Open.

Does Djokovic Need Match Practice Before New York?

Djokovic’s experience gives him more freedom than most players. His return patterns, point construction and ability to read opponents have been developed across two decades at the highest level.

He can often enter a tournament with limited preparation and still solve tactical problems faster than younger opponents. The greater uncertainty involves his body rather than his understanding of hard-court tennis.

Playing Cincinnati could provide one controlled competitive test before the US Open. Skipping both events would indicate that Djokovic and his team value rest and targeted training more than tournament rhythm.

The danger comes in the opening rounds in New York. An aggressive opponent who has already played several North American events may be more comfortable with the conditions. Djokovic would need to find his movement and timing while simultaneously protecting his place in the draw.

His career, however, has repeatedly shown that he is willing to accept preparation risk when the alternative involves carrying fatigue into a Grand Slam.

What the Withdrawals Mean for Alexander Zverev

Zverev becomes the most obvious beneficiary. Sinner, Djokovic and Alcaraz are all absent, leaving the German positioned to receive the top seed.

Montreal gives him an immediate opportunity to respond after losing the Wimbledon final. The full scale of that defeat and Sinner’s tactical control can be revisited in our detailed account of the 2026 men’s final and Sinner’s championship run.

A Masters 1000 title would help Zverev rebuild momentum before the US Open. It would also strengthen his standing as the leading contender in a draw stripped of its three biggest stars.

Opportunity brings pressure. Zverev will no longer arrive as one threat among several. He will be expected to win.

Why Felix Auger-Aliassime Becomes Montreal’s Central Story

Auger-Aliassime is expected to become the second seed and will carry the strongest home storyline. His seeding should prevent him from meeting Zverev until the final, assuming both progress that far.

The Canadian also arrives with evidence that he can compete in demanding matches against the game’s elite. His long Wimbledon quarterfinal against Djokovic tested his serve, endurance and emotional control.

That match was central to our analysis of the Wimbledon men’s semifinal picture, where Auger-Aliassime’s resistance exposed the physical price Djokovic had paid before facing Sinner.

Montreal now presents Auger-Aliassime with something more difficult than opportunity: expectation. Canadian fans will no longer view a deep run as a pleasant surprise. They will see a realistic chance to win one of the biggest titles of his career.

What These Withdrawals Say About the ATP Calendar

The most revealing withdrawal may belong to Sinner.

Djokovic is 39 and has obvious reasons to manage his schedule. Sinner is 24, at the peak of his career and coming off another Grand Slam title. When a player in that position concludes that a Masters 1000 tournament creates too much risk, the discussion extends beyond personal preference.

The sport wants its leading players at every commercially important event. Athletes must balance those expectations against the physical reality of repeated surface changes, travel and extended tournaments.

The broader Wimbledon schedule and pressure surrounding the summer calendar were already visible in The Sports Encounter’s Wimbledon 2026 preview and our full analysis of the tournament’s major title contenders.

Montreal suffers because of its calendar position. The event remains important, but the players most likely to reach the late stages of Grand Slams are also those with the strongest reason to protect themselves before New York.

What Happens Next for Sinner and Djokovic?

The next decisive development will be their Cincinnati participation.

If Sinner enters Cincinnati, Montreal will look like a carefully chosen recovery block. Should he withdraw from Cincinnati as well, questions about his health and match readiness will intensify.

Djokovic faces a similar decision, although his selective schedule is less surprising. One hard-court event could help him test his movement and endurance. Going directly to New York would maximize recovery while increasing the risk of early-round rust.

Neither withdrawal currently proves that either player is doubtful for the US Open. The available information supports a story of preservation rather than crisis.

For Montreal, their absence creates a weaker marquee lineup but a more open competition. Zverev receives a chance to rebuild after Wimbledon. Auger-Aliassime inherits the home crowd’s belief. Players outside the usual group of favorites can enter the tournament knowing that a Masters 1000 title has become more attainable.

Readers can continue following these developments through The Sports Encounter’s complete tennis coverage, including player updates, hard-court analysis and the buildup to the US Open.

FAQs

Why is Jannik Sinner not playing in Montreal?

Sinner said he withdrew after consulting his team because he wanted to prioritize his health. He did not identify a specific new injury in the tournament statement.

Why is Novak Djokovic skipping Montreal?

Djokovic has not publicly announced a detailed reason or specific injury. His withdrawal is consistent with selective schedule management, although that remains analysis rather than a confirmed explanation.

Is Carlos Alcaraz playing at the 2026 National Bank Open?

No. Alcaraz had already been ruled out because of a wrist injury.

Who will be the top seed in Montreal?

Alexander Zverev is expected to become the top seed following the withdrawals of Sinner and Djokovic.

Will Felix Auger-Aliassime be seeded second?

Yes. The Canadian is expected to receive the second seed, giving him a potentially favorable path through the draw.

Could Sinner and Djokovic still play in Cincinnati?

Yes. Their Montreal withdrawals do not automatically rule them out of Cincinnati. Their decisions about that tournament will clarify how they intend to prepare for the US Open.

Do the Montreal withdrawals mean Sinner and Djokovic could miss the US Open?

No current evidence establishes that either player will miss the US Open. The withdrawals appear connected to health protection, recovery and schedule management rather than confirmation of a major injury.

Final Verdict

Sinner and Djokovic are skipping Montreal because the value of another major preparation event must be weighed against the physical cost of playing it.

Sinner has openly prioritized his health after defending Wimbledon. Djokovic has not provided a detailed explanation, but his age, Grand Slam priorities and selective scheduling make additional recovery a logical consideration.

Their decisions expose the difficult position of the National Bank Open. Montreal remains prestigious, valuable and historically significant, yet its place between Wimbledon and the US Open makes it easier for leading players to sacrifice.

What happens next will be determined in Cincinnati. Until then, Montreal belongs to Zverev, Auger-Aliassime and a draw that suddenly looks far more open than tournament organizers expected.