Alcaraz withdraws from Toronto; Boisson pulls from Montreal
MONTREAL: World number two Carlos Alcaraz, a five-time Grand Slam singles champion, has withdrawn from next week's ATP Canadian Open in Toronto to recover from Wimbledon, organizers said on Monday.
The 22-year-old Spaniard lost to top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final earlier this month in a bid for his third consecutive crown in the grass-court classic.
'I'm really sad to have to miss the National Bank Open in Toronto,' Alcaraz said in a statement. 'I tried my best to be ready for the tournament as it's one I really enjoy playing, but it comes just too soon for me as I recover after Wimbledon. I wish the event well and look forward to being back on the Canadian courts next year.'
Alcaraz had his best Canada run in 2023, falling to American Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals. 'It's disappointing to lose a player of Carlos' quality, as we know our fans were looking forward to watching him,' tournament director Karl Hale said. 'Although he has been on the scene for a while, he's still at the beginning of his career and there will be plenty of opportunities for Canadians to see him again in the future.'
American Sebastian Korda, the world number 33 struggling with a leg injury, and Poland's 38th-ranked Hubert Hurkacz, fighting a knee injury, have also withdrawn.
Meanwhile, Roland Garros semi-finalist Lois Boisson announced Tuesday her withdrawal from the WTA 1000 event in Montreal due to a left adductor muscle injury, as the list of high-profile absentees from the Canadian Open continues to grow.
'I (did) an echography this morning following the pain that I had on my left adductor during the tournament in Hamburg and it appears that I need a little bit more time to rest and heal it properly,' world number 44 Boisson posted on social media. 'I am very disappointed to miss the @obnmontreal... It was not an easy decision but I always put my health as a priority.' The injury blow comes days after the 22-year-old backed up her performances at last month's French Open by winning her first tour-level event on the clay in Hamburg and breaking into the world's top 50.
Ranked 361st in the world before Roland Garros, Boisson created a sensation by reaching the semi-finals of the Grand Slam tournament, beating top 10 players Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva in the process. The Canadian Open has already seen a raft of big names withdraw from the women's and men's draws.
Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen will both miss the WTA event in Montreal, while Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will not be in ATP action in Toronto. The Montreal tournament runs from July 27-August 7, and is one of the principal warm-up events ahead of the US Open on the hard courts of New York at the end of the summer. – AFP
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