The 2025 Canadian Open, held in Toronto this August, was expected to be a highlight on the ATP calendar, but the tournament found itself at the center of a growing debate about the relentless demands of the modern tennis schedule. The absence of two of the sport’s brightest stars, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, cast a long shadow over the event, leaving fans and organizers alike yearning for the energy and spectacle only top-tier talent can provide.
For the second consecutive year, Sinner and Alcaraz opted out of the Canadian Open. Last year, their absence was due to their commitment to the Paris Olympics, but this time, the reason was simple yet telling: recovery. Both players had just come off grueling campaigns at Wimbledon, and with only a two-week gap between the London major and Toronto, rest and recuperation took precedence over another hard-court battle. As tournament director Karl Hale candidly admitted, "As far as the top players withdrawing, it's definitely not what we want."
The disappointment was palpable. Hale, speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, didn’t mince words about the challenges facing the tournament. "I think Carlos and Sinner have to look at our tour and commit to these majors. We're in talks with them going forward that they're involved in our event," he explained. The Canadian Open, one of the oldest and most prestigious Masters 1000 events on the ATP Tour, has always prided itself on attracting the world’s best. But this year, the field looked noticeably thinner at the top, with Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Lorenzo Musetti stepping in as the highest seeds.
The impact was immediate. The buzz around the tournament was dampened, and the draw felt wide open. Yet, out of this void emerged a new champion: Ben Shelton. The young American seized the opportunity, battling his way to his maiden Masters 1000 title by defeating Karen Khachanov in the final. Shelton’s run was nothing short of spectacular, and he was quick to acknowledge his opponent’s efforts after the match. "I have a lot to say but I want to start with Karen. I'm sorry about tonight. Incredible week. I watched a lot of your matches. The level you've played this week is really really high. The way you were hitting the ball tonight, not many people in the world can hit the ball like that."
Despite the excitement Shelton brought, there was no escaping the sense that something was missing. The Canadian Open is accustomed to being more than a stepping stone for rising stars—it’s a battleground for the elite. The absence of Sinner and Alcaraz, both already central figures in the sport’s next generation, left fans and pundits alike wondering: Is the tennis calendar simply too demanding for its own good?
Hale’s answer is a resounding yes. He pointed to the tight scheduling as a key reason for the withdrawals. "This year, there was only two weeks between Wimbledon and Montreal. Next year, there's three weeks between Wimbledon and Montreal," he revealed, signaling a major change for 2026. The hope is that by giving players more time to recover after the rigors of Wimbledon, the Canadian Open can once again attract a full slate of top talent.
It’s not just Sinner and Alcaraz feeling the strain. Even Novak Djokovic, a fixture in the GOAT conversation and long known for his marathon-like stamina, has scaled back his participation in smaller tournaments like the Canadian Open. Injuries forced both Djokovic and Jack Draper out of Cincinnati as well, further highlighting the physical toll of the tour. As one source noted, "If the GOAT himself is saying, ‘Nah, I’m good,’ then you know something’s gotta give."
The issue isn’t just about rest. It’s about the future of the sport. Alcaraz himself summed it up: "I love playing tennis, but sometimes it’s just too much." The sentiment is echoed across the locker room, with players increasingly seeking to balance their schedules to avoid burnout. The relentless grind of ATP 250s, Masters 1000s, and Grand Slams, all while rumors swirl of new tournaments and shifting priorities, has created an environment where even the best must pick their battles.
For Hale and the Canadian Open, the solution is twofold: schedule smarter and offer more incentives. He’s already in active discussions with Sinner and Alcaraz, and the optimism is real. "We spoke to them for several days, and then I said 'okay in 2026 you're going to be in Montreal, just make sure that happens.' I'm very confident they'll be in Montreal next year," he shared. Behind the scenes, tournament organizers are working on bonuses and creative scheduling tweaks to sweeten the deal for star players.
Why does it matter so much? Beyond ticket sales and TV ratings, the presence of Sinner and Alcaraz represents the promise of the sport’s future. Sinner, in particular, is already being touted as a potential future GOAT, and every match he plays draws eyeballs and ignites social media. The rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz is one of the most compelling storylines in tennis today, and tournaments like the Canadian Open rely on these narratives to remain relevant and exciting.
Yet, the challenge remains. The tennis calendar is, as one observer put it, "soul-crushing brutal." The addition of more rest between majors is a welcome step, but the broader question of how to prevent player burnout and keep the sport’s stars on the court lingers. The Canadian Open’s struggles this year are a microcosm of the ATP Tour’s larger dilemma: how to balance tradition, commercial demands, and player welfare in an increasingly crowded schedule.
For now, fans can only hope that the changes coming in 2026 will mark a turning point. The promise of seeing Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic, and other top names back in Montreal is tantalizing. If Hale’s efforts bear fruit, the Canadian Open could once again reclaim its status as a must-watch event on the tennis calendar—a place where legends are made and rivalries are born.
Until then, the tournament will savor the emergence of new stars like Ben Shelton and look ahead to a future where the biggest names are back where they belong: battling for glory on Canadian soil. One thing’s for sure—the drama isn’t over, and the best may be yet to come.
