Stymied tournament director speaks out to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

Toronto Masters 1000 director Karl Hale at the podcast “Nothing Major” spoke about the talked about absence of so many top tennis players at the Canadian tournament, which was scheduled two weeks after Wimbledon ended. “As for Jack Draper and Novak Djokovic, we knew they had physical problems, and they are absent even now in Cincinnati. On Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, on the other hand, it certainly was not what we were hoping for”.

“I think Carlos and Jannik need to look at our circuit, the ATP Tour, and commit to these major tournaments. We are in talks with them to make sure they will be there next year’next year” revealed Hale.

“We are in contact to ensure their participation. Remember that in 2026 there will be three weeks between Wimbledon and the Canadian Open, while this year there’s only two, it”s a big change.

The Canadian Open will be held in 2026.

The absence of the top tennis players has greatly penalized the event in Canada, which will move to Montreal next season as far as the men are concerned: “When Sinner and Alcaraz retired this year, we talked to them and said, ‘Okay, you will be in Montreal in 2026. Make sure it’s going to happen. I am confident that they will be there next year, that&#8217s why we are offering bonuses and more time for rest”.