Just days ago, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Jannik Sinner announced they would be skipping the 2025 edition of the Toronto Masters 1000 to prioritize preparation for upcoming challenges in the season. With that decision made, each of them already has a clear idea of what their next tournament will be.
The event in Canada is set to begin this Sunday, July 27, and will run nearly two weeks, ending on Thursday, August 7. That timeline posed a clear scheduling issue for the ATP Tour’s top stars, especially after the physical and emotional demands of Wimbledon—and with the US Open fast approaching.
After pulling out of the 2025 Canadian Open, Alcaraz, Sinner, and Djokovic are expected to return for the Cincinnati Open, scheduled from August 7 to 18. That appearance will leave them with a full week of rest before the US Open kicks off on August 24.
At the Masters 1000 event in Ohio, Sinner and Alcaraz will naturally enter as top seeds and title favorites. That status is driven not only by their ATP Rankings (currently No. 1 and No. 2, respectively), but also by recent form—having faced off in the finals of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
The race for No. 1 between Alcaraz and Sinner
Sinner’s decision to withdraw from Toronto won’t have a major impact on his ATP Rankings position. In 2024, he exited the tournament in the quarterfinals after losing to Andrey Rublev, earning just 200 points—hardly a critical loss for the Italian star.
Alcaraz, on the other hand, didn’t play in Canada in 2024 either, so he’s not defending any points there this year. While his absence won’t cost him, it also represents a missed opportunity to close the gap with Jannik.
The real battle will take place in Cincinnati, which explains why both stars prioritized that event, even at the expense of skipping Toronto. In 2024, Sinner captured the title in Ohio, while Alcaraz suffered a surprising exit in the Round of 32. That dynamic sets up a high-stakes scenario: Sinner will need a strong showing to maintain his lead, while Alcaraz has a golden opportunity to gain ground.
What did Alcaraz say about his Toronto withdrawal?
Carlos Alcaraz announced his decision to sit out this year’s Masters 1000 in Canada through a post on his official X account. “After many consecutive weeks of competition without rest, I will not be able to play in Toronto this year. I have small muscles issues and I need to recover physically and mentally for what comes next,” he explained. “To the tournament and to my fans in Canada I am very sorry, I will see you next year!”
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