Novak Djokovic's return delayed after withdrawal from Canadian Open 2026
(Courtesy : @atptour/Twitter)
Novak Djokovic last featured at the Canadian Open in 2018.
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has followed Jannik Sinner in pulling out of this year’s National Bank Open, with Tennis Canada confirming that the 24-time Grand Slam champion will not compete in Montreal at the ATP Masters 1000 event running from August 1 to 13.
Like Sinner, Djokovic was also included in the tournament’s entry list earlier this month. Organisers had already expressed doubts about his participation, given that the 39-year-old Djokovic is very selective about the tournaments he plays at this stage of his career.
While he has not explained his reason for withdrawal, fatigue and workload management appear to be the most likely reasons. At the fag end of his career, the Serbian prioritises Grand Slams and might prefer playing in Cincinnati to Montreal, as the latter’s conditions are similar to those at Flushing Meadows.
The trio of Djokovic, Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz had all missed the 2025 edition in Toronto, which was squeezed in just two weeks after that year’s Wimbledon final.
This year’s tournament was pushed back to three weeks after Wimbledon, specifically to give players more recovery time, though that adjustment didn’t change Djokovic’s decision either.
Djokovic’s history with the event has been complicated. The Serbian has won the tournament four times, in 2007, 2011, 2012, and 2017, but he hasn’t stepped on court there since 2018, when he lost in the third round in Montreal.
Everything since then, including a 2022 withdrawal tied to his vaccination status and pullouts in both 2023 and 2024, has kept him away from the draw entirely. Djokovic is next expected to play in Cincinnati, which begins on August 11.
However, given Djokovic’s uncertainty in playing non-Grand Slam competitions recently, one should not be surprised if he decides to instead enter the US Open directly, without any hard-court preparation, skipping the entire North American swing.
When will the Canadian Open 2026 start?
The ATP Masters 1000 event will run from August 1 to 13
Who is the defending champion of the Canadian Open in men’s singles?
Ben Shelton is the defending champion in men’s singles.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.