Canadian Open 2026: Sinner, Djokovic and Alcaraz All Out as Tennis Canada's Frustration Boils Over

by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga

image Canadian Open 2026: Sinner, Djokovic and Alcaraz All Out as Tennis Canada's Frustration Boils Over
For the second straight year, the three biggest names in men's tennis will not play at the Canadian Open. Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic both withdrew on the same day to rest. Carlos Alcaraz was never on the entry list, still recovering from the wrist injury that has kept him out since April. And Tennis Canada did not hide their disappointment. Still, the 2026 National Bank Open still offers a deep field across both cities, with Alexander Zverev leading the men's draw in Montreal and Aryna Sabalenka headlining the women's in Toronto.
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Three Absences and a Public Statement

Tennis Canada confirmed on Friday that Sinner and Djokovic had both pulled out of the Montreal draw, joining Alcaraz as the third consecutive top-three player to miss the event. 

The organisation's response was pointed. In a public statement, they said they were "obviously very disappointed" that neither player would be competing, "especially after they also withdrew from last year's tournament in Toronto."

Interestingly, officials had expected fewer pull-outs this year after moving the start date three weeks after Wimbledon instead of the previous two.

"After carefully considering all the factors together with my team, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw from Montreal. It is never easy to miss such an important event, but we believe this is the right decision to prioritise my health." (Jannik Sinner)

And the frustration is understandable. With Sinner holding an extraordinary run of seven consecutive Masters 1000 titles, his presence would have elevated the tournament significantly. 

Instead, the men's field is led by Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev as the top seed.

Montreal: Auger-Aliassime's Hometown Moment

Felix Auger-Aliassime is seeded second, making him the highest-seeded Canadian in the tournament's 136-year history. 

The 25-year-old Auger will play in front of a home crowd at IGA Stadium that has watched him grow from a teenage prospect into one of the most consistent players on tour. What’s more:

  • Defending champion Ben Shelton, seeded fifth, returns after winning his maiden Masters 1000 title in Toronto last August in a three-set final against Karen Khachanov.
  • The men's draw contains 96 players, and with the top 32 receiving first-round byes, the business end of the tournament arrives quickly.
  • Taylor Fritz, Lorenzo Musetti and Frances Tiafoe are all expected to be seeded, along with rising names like Learner Tien, Jakub Mensik and Rafael Jodar.
  • Cameron Norrie is the only British player confirmed for the men's main draw in Montreal.

Toronto: Sabalenka Leads a Stacked Women's Field

Sabalenka playing tennis

The WTA side in Toronto looks significantly stronger than the ATP field, with 72 of the world's top 75 players entered. 

Aryna Sabalenka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, is the top seed and favourite on the best betting sites. Elena Rybakina, who won the Australian Open earlier this year, is seeded second. Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula, who won back-to-back Canadian Open titles in 2023 and 2024, is third.

Iga Swiatek's drop to world No. 8 means the six-time Grand Slam champion is seeded seventh in Toronto, setting up a potentially brutal path through Pegula, Gauff and Linda Noskova before even reaching the semi-finals.

Her form has been inconsistent since winning Wimbledon last year, and a deep run in Toronto would go a long way toward rebuilding momentum ahead of the US Open.

Defending Champion Mboko Out, Boulter Returns

Victoria Mboko, the Canadian who won the title last year, has withdrawn with a knee injury suffered during the grass-court swing. And her absence only means there will be a new champion in Toronto. 

Katie Boulter is the only British woman in the main draw, playing her first tournament since marrying Alex de Minaur. Emma Raducanu has also withdrawn due to the leg injury she has been managing since the end of the clay season.