Overview
- Sinner confirmed he will not play in the Canadian Open, saying his team chose rest and focused preparation for the US Open over competing in Montreal.
- By skipping the event he surrenders the chance to add another Masters title this year, though his team and supporters say protecting his fitness for Flushing Meadows is the priority.
- Former players and pundits including Rennae Stubbs, Kim Clijsters and Fabio Fognini publicly defended the withdrawal as a sensible load‑management choice.
- Tournament directors have pushed the ATP to consider changes after several top players, including Sinner, Djokovic and Alcaraz, stayed away from the event and weakened the star line‑up.
- The dispute feeds a bigger debate about the 12‑day Masters expansion introduced in 2024, with critics saying the longer format and a crowded calendar make it harder for elite players to commit to every event and harder for tournaments to guarantee consistent top draws.