Tennis fans dudded after Djokovic and Sinner opt out in 'disastrous' $14m blow
The Masters 1000 tournament - which serves as a traditional lead-up event to the US Open - is set to take place next week in Canada, with a total of $14m up for grabs. But the tournament will be missing some serious star power, with four of the top six players in men's tennis opting not to play.
World No.1 Sinner has opted to rest his right elbow, which he injured on his way to winning the Wimbledon title for the first time. The Italian won the first Masters 1000 event of his career in Toronto in 2023.
'Winning that title in Toronto two years ago was the start of a really special moment for me," Sinner said in a statement. "But after speaking with my team, I have to recover."
Djokovic cited a groin injury for his withdrawal, which he also suffered at Wimbledon. The World No.6 slipped on the grass at the All England Club, but was able to continue and eventually lost in the semi-finals to Sinner.
Jack Draper and Carlos Alcaraz also out
And World No.5 Draper will miss both Toronto and the Cincinnati Masters next month because of a problem with his left arm. It means the top-ranked British star likely won't have any hard-court warm-up events before the US Open begins on August 24.
'After Wimbledon I picked up an injury in my left arm, nothing serious, but I have to make sure it recovers fully for the rest of the season,' Draper posted on social media. 'Unfortunately, I won't be able to compete in Toronto and Cincinnati…. See you in NYC!'
Later on Sunday, reports from local Spanish media stated that Alcaraz won't play either. The World No.2 was runner-up to Sinner at Wimbledon, and is reportedly prioritising rest and recovery to be fully-fit for the US Open.
Tennis fans dudded by 'unacceptable' scheduling
Tennis fans took to social media on Sunday amid the news about Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic and Draper not playing in Toronto. While many said they understood their decisions, there was still plenty of disappointment and frustration - particularly from fans in Toronto who'd already bought tickets.
Many pointed out that Toronto and Cincinnati have both been increased to 12-day events this year, meaning the schedule has become even more packed. With the US Open now a three-week event due to the revamped mixed doubles program, players need to be selective about when and where they play. But considering Toronto is a Masters 1000 event (the tier just below grand slams), some described it as "disastrous" and "unacceptable" for the ATP that so many top-10 players would withdraw.
"I think it is time to address the gruelling schedule athletes must maintain during the season," one person wrote. Another added: "I hope the ATP Tour takes a long, hard look at these 2-week Masters (especially Toronto and Cincy) and figures out how to ensure the top players participate. Just because players don't want to be in North America for 6-7 weeks (especially the European ones) doesn't mean the Canadian fans should suffer. Completely unacceptable."
Sinner Djokovic & Draper all out of Toronto this year...Every year it seems the Canadian event misses out on some of the big names with Cincinnati 1000 the week after... Djokovic hasn't played in Canada since 2018! #ATP
— John Horn (@SportsHorn) July 20, 2025
I think it is time to address the grueling schedule athletes must maintain during the season?!?!@WTA @atptour
— Laffy Taffy (@winggirle) July 20, 2025
Gone are the days when in Toronto/Montreal we had the top 10 in the tournament.
— Jonathan Riveros (@JonyHidalgo_) July 20, 2025
I hope the @atptour takes a long, hard look at these 2 week Masters (especially Toronto and Cincy) and figures out how to ensure the top players participate. Sinner, Alcaraz and Draper are young. Djokovic you can't blame and he's sustained an injury. Draper isn't playing Cincy…
— Tennis Connected (@TennisConnected) July 20, 2025
Tennis when it gets physical to the level of Alcaraz and Sinner, it's bound to break your bodies.Unless you're Rafa Nadal, it's impossible to make n number of comebacks and win big tournaments.ATP should lessen the workload of players
— 🐂 (@theBlackkSky) July 20, 2025
Sadly I don't think that he'll ever play Toronto/Montréal ever again
— Nick (@RealxCR7) July 20, 2025
Djokovic, Sinner, Draper & now Alcaraz have all withdrawn from Toronto. Disastrous blow to any tournament much less a Masters 1000.
— AAsarwar (@aasarwar7862) July 20, 2025
Withdrawals open door for Alex de Minaur
However it does open up a huge opportunity for Australia's Alex de Minaur, who's fallen down the rankings to World No.12. De Minaur is slated to play the DC Open in Washington this week, and has a golden opportunity to climb the rankings heading into the US Open.
Because he didn't play any lead-up events before last year's US Open due to a hip injury, he isn't defending any rankings points. That means any tournament he plays before the grand slam at Flushing Meadows will see him earn points.
'The whole back end of the year I've got very little to defend,' he said after his exit from Wimbledon in the fourth round. 'It's opportunity after opportunity for me. I'm hoping that the little bit of time off before (Wimbledon), a bit of time off after, I will put myself in a good position to finish the year strongly.'
However de Minaur has flagged being smarter about how many tournaments he plays after feeling burnt out after the French Open. How many events be plays heading into the US Open remains to be seen.
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Jones took Dart to the house for six two plays later 😳 🎥 @ — The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) July 23, 2025 The quarterback dropped back and stared down tight end Greg Dulcich running a curl route on the left side of the field. Slot cornerback Nic Jones read Dart the whole way and jumped the pass, intercepting it and taking it the other way for a touchdown. Dart told The Athletic's Ian O'Connor after practice that he saw Jones but thought he could beat the corner with the throw. Advertisement 'Obviously, going back, you want to try to put it a little on the outside shoulder,' Dart said. 'That's just the closing speed of the NFL. You do your best to try to get used to it because there are a lot of really, really good athletes out here.' Dart responded two plays later by fielding a low snap, taking a step to his right and quickly pivoting back to his left before flipping a pass to tight end Theo Johnson for a short touchdown. That was the lone highlight for Dart on the first day of camp. Rookie QB Jaxson Dart's first 11-on-11 TD of training camp went to TE Theo Johnson #giants — Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) July 23, 2025 The rookie completed 1-of-5 passes in 11-on-11 periods with the full team. He held the ball extensively on a few dropbacks, which is indicative of his indecisiveness as he learns the offense. Daboll instituted a period for young players late in the practice, which he's done sporadically in previous camps. Dart completed his lone attempt to undrafted rookie wide receiver Beaux Collins during that period. He also fumbled a snap from under center. Dart's comfort taking snaps from center will bear monitoring since he worked almost exclusively from the shotgun in college. Dart slipped in for Wilson on one first-team rep, throwing an incompletion intended for wide receiver Darius Slayton. Otherwise, Dart rotated with Jameis Winston as the No. 2 quarterback. • All team 11-on-11 periods were conducted in the red zone, which is by design to avoid any muscle strains from players sprinting long distances on the first day of camp. Wide receiver Malik Nabers was targeted on seven of Wilson's 15 attempts, although they only connected for three completions. Nabers made an excellent leaping catch over cornerback Deonte Banks on a fade for a touchdown. Banks had previously forced an incompletion with tight coverage on an underthrown end-zone fade to Nabers. Malik Nabers vs. Deonte Banks #giants — Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) July 23, 2025 Practice finished with Wilson hitting Nabers for a touchdown on a slant route with Cor'Dale Flott in coverage. That was a situational period with the offense trailing by four points and having a second-and-4 from the 7-yard line. After Wilson threw a pass away while targeting Nabers, he came back with the touchdown on the slant. Advertisement Nabers was a full participant in practice after spending the entire spring rehabilitating a nagging toe injury. Nabers said he expects to manage the toe during training camp and didn't rule out surgery at some point, but he said he feels good now. • It can be challenging to track the depth chart during team periods because players are shuffled so frequently. It's more telling when the units separate for walk-through install periods. These players were with the starting offense during an install period: QB Russell Wilson, RB Tyrone Tracy, RB Devin Singletary, RB Cam Skattebo, WR Malik Nabers, WR Darius Slayton, WR Wan'Dale Robinson, TE Theo Johnson, TE Chris Manhertz, TE Daniel Bellinger, LT James Hudson, LG Jon Runyan, C John Michael Schmitz, RG Greg Van Roten, RT Jermaine Eluemunor, OT Marcus Mbow and OG Jake Kubas. • Van Roten was the first-team right guard for the bulk of practice, with Kubas and Evan Neal each playing one period at right guard with the starters. Hudson served as the first-team left tackle in Thomas' place. Mbow worked at both tackle spots with the second-team offense. • Fourth-string quarterback Tommy DeVito was limited to just three reps in 11-on-11 periods. He took two additional reps in the period for young players. It's going to be hard to justify carrying a fourth quarterback throughout camp, especially when the three QBs ahead of DeVito are new to the system and need reps. • The competition for the No. 2 cornerback job appears legitimate. Flott was the starter opposite Paulson Adebo for the first 7-on-7 period of practice. Flott and Banks rotated throughout practice, with Flott on the field for the final situational period. It would be best for the Giants if the more talented Banks wins the job, but they likely feel the need to make him earn it after his performance and attitude were disappointing last season. Advertisement • Okereke, who suffered a season-ending back injury last year, participated in almost every period after missing the final four open practices of the spring. Darius Muasau was the next inside linebacker up alongside Micah McFadden when Okereke sat out on Tuesday. • Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka served as the play caller, as was the case all spring. Kafka's Kansas City roots were evident on a few play designs in the red zone. Dart learned a valuable lesson on the interception, while Jones turned heads with his good read and ability to finish the play with a takeaway. Jones broke into the open field after intercepting the pass, setting off a celebration with defensive teammates. 'Yesterday, I challenged the defense. They want to talk about our D-line and all this, but we haven't done anything yet. We have to come out here every day and improve and get better and challenge each other and just work and be critical and be coachable.' — DL Dexter Lawrence "As a leader, I try to challenge everybody to prove themselves every day. They want to talk about our D-Line, but we ain't done anything yet." – Dexter Lawrence — Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) July 23, 2025 The Giants will conduct their second training camp practice at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday. The session is open to fans. (Photo of Nabers: Julian Leshay Guadalupe / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
