The upcoming 2025 National Bank Open has suffered a significant blow with the withdrawal of several marquee names from the men’s singles draw. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, four-time champion Novak Djokovic, and British No. 1 Jack Draper have all announced their absence from the ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto, citing various health and recovery issues.
Sinner, the reigning World No. 1 and 2023 champion in Toronto, expressed regret at missing out on one of the key hard-court stops on the calendar. “Winning in Toronto two years ago was a turning point in my career,” he said in a statement. “But after consulting with my team, I need to prioritise my health. I look forward to returning in the future and playing in front of the amazing fans there.”
Djokovic, 38, has chosen to skip the Canadian event as he manages his workload ahead of the final stretch of the season. The Serbian great, who has won the Canadian Masters title four times, has not issued an official comment on his decision.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, pointed to both mental and physical fatigue as the reasons for his withdrawal. The Spanish star took to social media to share his situation, stating: “I’ve been feeling some muscle discomfort and need time to recover, both physically and mentally. I’ll be back next year!”
Adding to the list, Jack Draper has pulled out due to an arm injury, removing yet another top-10 seed from the draw.
With four of the top six players now absent, the men’s singles competition in Toronto is wide open. The unexpected withdrawals create opportunities for rising stars and lower-ranked players to make an impact at one of the season’s most prestigious tournaments.
