The tournament director of the Canadian Open, Valerie Tetreault, says changes are needed to the 'demanding schedule' after Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic withdrew from the Masters 1000 event in Montreal. Sinner, who beat Alexander Zverev to win Wimbledon this month, said he pulled out to prioritise his health, while Carlos Alcaraz remains absent due to a wrist injury. Tetreault expressed disappointment but respected their decisions, noting that player health must remain the priority.

She added that the frequency of such last‑minute withdrawals in recent years raises a broader issue for the sport. Masters 1000 events are flagship tournaments, and fans expect to see the world’s best compete. The Canadian Open takes place before the Cincinnati Open and the US Open on 30 August. Seven of the existing nine Masters 1000 events are now staged over 12 days, contributing to a congested tennis calendar that spans 11 months for top players. Recent withdrawals include Britain’s Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu from Wimbledon due to injury, and earlier this year Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek pulled out of the Dubai Championships.

In September 2024, Alcaraz warned that the schedule 'is going to kill us in some way.' Tetreault said adjustments are needed in the near future to protect the integrity of Masters 1000 events while considering players’ realities. Earlier, tournament director Salah Tahlak suggested docking points for late withdrawals, a proposal Sabalenka called 'ridiculous'.