World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has pulled out of the National Bank Open - also known as the Canada Masters – an ATP 1000 event, for the second year in a row, extending his break from the Tour following his triumph at Wimbledon. His withdrawal came as a major blow to the event, as Sinner became the fourth major player to opt out after Wimbledon runner-up Carlos Alcaraz, semifinalist Novak Djokovic, and World No. 5 Jack Draper also withdrew.

“I’m really disappointed to be missing the National Bank Open in Toronto, especially as I have such fond memories of playing in Canada,” said Sinner, who braved an elbow injury in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.

“Winning that title in Toronto two years ago was the start of a really special moment for me, but after speaking with my team, I have to prioritise my health,” he emphasised.

“I would like to thank Karl Hale, the tournament director, for everything he does, and I’m looking forward to returning to Canada and Toronto in the future to play in front of the great fans,” added the Italian player.

Sinner won the Toronto event in 2023 but was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Andrey Rublev last year.

Alcaraz also opted to withdraw from the event to recover from the rigours of playing back-to-back tournaments. He is expected to return at the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season.

Djokovic, meanwhile, appears to be struggling with his fitness and has decided to rest. He made an awkward landing during his quarter-final clash with Flavio Cobolli at Wimbledon. The Serbian star has won the tournament on four occasions during his illustrious career.

Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic are not the only big names skipping the Canada tournament, which gets underway on July 27. British No. 1 Jack Draper has been ruled out of the competition with an arm injury. He is unlikely to return before the US Open in August.