“Do you really think he cares?”: Rennae Stubbs says Sinner made the right call by skipping Canada
ATPWednesday, 29 July 2026 at 20:30
Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal from the Canadian Open disappointed fans around the world, but it also reignited one of the most fascinating debates of the season: whether the world No. 1 should have played in Montreal to keep alive his chance of completing what would have been one of the rarest achievements in tennis history.
By skipping the tournament, Sinner surrendered the possibility of becoming the first player ever to win every ATP Masters 1000 event on the calendar in a single season. The Italian had already captured Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome in 2026, arriving in North America on a remarkable winning streak across the Masters level.
However, former Australian player and respected coach Rennae Stubbs believes the criticism aimed at Sinner completely misses the point. Speaking after the withdrawal became official, Stubbs argued that the Italian had earned the right to prioritize his long-term goals after an extraordinary first half of the season.
The Italian will return at the Cincinnati Open, where he can continue extending his Masters 1000 title streak. After winning the tournament in 2024, he was forced to retire during the final in 2025, and Carlos Alcaraz eventually lifted the title.
“Do you really think he cares?”
Stubbs made it clear that she had no issue with Sinner choosing rest over another tournament, pointing to the workload that helped him produce one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory.
“I don’t blame Jannik one bit for deciding not to play,” the former Serena Williams coach said. “He had a very demanding schedule to achieve the results he achieved. He played all the clay-court tournaments, lost that match we all know about at Roland Garros, and then won Wimbledon. Before the London Grand Slam, he didn’t play any tournament. Maybe he learned the lesson from how many matches he had before Roland Garros.”
Jannik Sinner won his sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title at the Italian Open, thus completing the Career Golden Masters.
The Australian was particularly dismissive of the argument that Sinner should have chased history simply because the opportunity was available.
“And then there are people who even have the nerve to say that he had the chance to win all the Masters 1000 tournaments of the year and therefore should have played. But do you really think he cares? He has already broken countless records, becoming the youngest player to achieve this or that. He has just won Wimbledon.”
According to Stubbs, the Italian’s priorities are much simpler than many fans assume.
“Right now, his only thought is how to win the US Open. Skipping the Canadian tournament clearly gives him a little more time to recover and then face the workload planned in Cincinnati.”
The numbers behind a remarkable season
Sinner’s decision is even more striking because of what he had already accomplished at Masters 1000 level this year. The Italian owns a perfect 29-0 record in Masters events during the 2026 season, and that run extends to 34 consecutive victories in the category dating back to his 2025 Paris Masters title.
He has won five consecutive Masters 1000 tournaments this season, lifting trophies at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome while dropping only three sets across 61 played in those events. His dominance has included seven victories over top-10 opponents.
The Rome title was particularly significant because it completed his Career Golden Masters, joining Novak Djokovic as one of the few players in history to win every Masters 1000 event at least once. Sinner now owns 10 Masters 1000 titles, already placing him seventh on the all-time list despite still being in his mid-twenties.
For many players, the chance to chase another historic milestone would have been impossible to ignore. Stubbs sees it differently. After a surprising second-round loss at Roland Garros and then responding by winning Wimbledon, Sinner appears determined to arrive at Flushing Meadows in peak condition rather than exhausted from an extra week of competition.
The Italian will be looking to capture his sixth major title and his second US Open crown at Flushing Meadows. A year ago, he came within one match of the title by reaching the final in New York, but ultimately fell to an inspired Carlos Alcaraz. This time, Sinner will arrive as the overwhelming favorite, especially after Alcaraz’s months-long absence from competition.
Jannik Sinner’s Masters 1000 winning streak in 2026
| No. | Tournament | Round | Opponent | Opponent Ranking | Score |
| 1 | Indian Wells | 2R | Dalibor Svrčina (Q) | No. 109 | 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2 | 3R | Denis Shapovalov | No. 39 | 6-3, 6-2 | |
| 3 | 4R | João Fonseca | No. 35 | 7-6(8-6), 7-6(7-4) | |
| 4 | QF | Learner Tien (25) | No. 27 | 6-1, 6-2 | |
| 5 | SF | Alexander Zverev (4) | No. 4 | 6-2, 6-4 | |
| 6 | F | Daniil Medvedev (11) | No. 11 | 7-6(8-6), 7-6(7-4) | |
| 7 | Miami Open | 2R | Damir Džumhur | No. 76 | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 8 | 3R | Corentin Moutet (30) | No. 33 | 6-1, 6-4 | |
| 9 | 4R | Alex Michelsen | No. 40 | 7-5, 7-6(7-4) | |
| 10 | QF | Frances Tiafoe (19) | No. 20 | 6-2, 6-2 | |
| 11 | SF | Alexander Zverev (3) | No. 4 | 6-3, 7-6(7-4) | |
| 12 | F | Jiří Lehečka (21) | No. 22 | 6-4, 6-4 | |
| 13 | Monte-Carlo Masters | 2R | Ugo Humbert | No. 34 | 6-3, 6-0 |
| 14 | 3R | Tomáš Macháč | No. 53 | 6-1, 6-7(3-7), 6-3 | |
| 15 | QF | Félix Auger-Aliassime (6) | No. 7 | 6-3, 6-4 | |
| 16 | SF | Alexander Zverev (3) | No. 3 | 6-1, 6-4 | |
| 17 | F | Carlos Alcaraz (1) | No. 1 | 7-6(7-5), 6-3 | |
| 18 | Madrid Open | 2R | Benjamin Bonzi (Q) | No. 104 | 6-7(6-8), 6-1, 6-4 |
| 19 | 3R | Elmer Møller (Q) | No. 169 | 6-2, 6-3 | |
| 20 | 4R | Cameron Norrie (19) | No. 23 | 6-2, 7-5 | |
| 21 | QF | Rafael Jódar (WC) | No. 42 | 6-2, 7-6(7-0) | |
| 22 | SF | Arthur Fils (21) | No. 25 | 6-2, 6-4 | |
| 23 | F | Alexander Zverev (2) | No. 3 | 6-1, 6-2 | |
| 24 | Italian Open | 2R | Sebastian Ofner | No. 82 | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 25 | 3R | Alexei Popyrin | No. 60 | 6-2, 6-0 | |
| 26 | 4R | Andrea Pellegrino (Q) | No. 155 | 6-2, 6-3 | |
| 27 | QF | Andrey Rublev (12) | No. 14 | 6-2, 6-4 | |
| 28 | SF | Daniil Medvedev (7) | No. 9 | 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 | |
| 29 | F | Casper Ruud (23) | No. 25 | 6-4, 6-4 |
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Pro Sports is still pretending the Climate is not going to be a physical health factor -- getting hotter and more debilitating for animals and Humans. Well, it's not whether the climate is "going to" get hotter... IT IS ALREADY HERE!! Sport governing bodies and venues are -- and have been -- disregarding the warnings regarding the Future temperatures when it comes to outdoor events and potential injury (or even death) of fans & athletes alike. Are these financially greedy entities intentionally pretending Climate Change is not happening? Or merely gambling with their own futures, as well as the athletes' health and futures as well? It is time to pay attention to the warming trend and be empathetic toward their money-makers (athletes) -- not PATHETIC.
mandoist29-07-2026 - CORRECTION Required: Jannik is WORLD NO. 1 and not 2. "The same can be said for Sinner and Djokovic. The """"World No.2""""" cited health reasons for not going, preserving his body for the Cincinnati Open ahead of the important US Open. If he was set to participate in both, it would be a lot of tennis with him likely to win both tournaments ahead of the trip to Flushing Meadows."J29-07-2026
- That does not sound very healthy
AceOfBase29-07-2026 - Interesting to see and watch the son of a great tennis player. Will he get better than his dad, or not :-)AceOfBase29-07-2026
- What clear-thinking player at the top of the field needs to Double-up with Ranking No. 469??mandoist27-07-2026
- It's refreshing to see a young and evolving player with enough intelligence to not fall for this 'Williams Charade'. Too bad the WTA -- and all the phony insiders -- cannot be Honest about No. 469 and put a stop to it. WTA has Qualifiers for a reason!!mandoist27-07-2026
- This one is Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!mandoist27-07-2026
- WTA players have been the loudest voices against the ridiculous, mentally & physically dangerous scheduling for the past 2 seasons. But now that ATP is affected, all of a sudden it's a 'legitimate' issue. The WTA / ATP fat-cats need to leave their air-conditioned offices once in a while and experience no days off!mandoist26-07-2026
- Can someone please tell Stubbs to STFU? This is not a match commentating situation (where she also cannot shut her mouth; not even for a second). This is BIOLOGY. Look it up, before you next bless us with your lack of wisdom. Better yet... have that male Olympic boxer in Algeria throw a "female" punch at you and let us know how that goes.mandoist24-07-2026
- This testing should have been done years ago as a prerequisite to competing in any male or female sport. Safety First -- Biology Rules!!mandoist21-07-2026
Loading