Sinner, Djokovic, Alcaraz, Mboko, Raducanu and more: The 10 biggest names missing the 2026 Canadian Open

Sunday, 26 July 2026 at 18:30

Amid ongoing debates over the Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 schedule, the two-week format and the importance these tournaments appear to be losing on tour, several top names have already confirmed their absence, opening up opportunities within the draws.

On the men’s side, the absences are particularly significant with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner deciding not to extend his perfect run of six consecutive Masters 1000 titles won in 2026 — seven since the end of 2025 — and instead choosing to rest ahead of the Cincinnati Open. Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have also withdrawn, leaving the three biggest favorites out of the main draw.

On the women’s side, there are also several notable withdrawals, led by defending champion Victoria Mboko, who will miss the tournament after suffering an injury during the grass-court swing and has already spent a month away from competition. Recent Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu are among the other top names who will not compete in Toronto.

The Canadian Open is only one week away from beginning and will be the first Masters 1000/WTA 1000 tournament of the North American hard-court swing. The following stops will be Cincinnati and New York, leading into the fourth Grand Slam of the year.

1. Jannik Sinner

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner confirmed his absence from the Canadian Open for the second consecutive year — the tournament where he won his first Masters 1000 title in 2023. The Italian arrives after becoming Wimbledon champion but decided to extend his rest and recovery period ahead of the US Open, skipping the first Masters 1000 event of the hard-court swing.

Without the presence of the tournament’s biggest favorite, the field opens up for the rest of the players following an unstoppable run in the category, which has already reached 34 consecutive Masters 1000 matches won.

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Although Sinner gave up the unprecedented opportunity to win all nine Masters 1000 tournaments in the same season, the five-time Grand Slam champion’s decision was simply a calendar choice. He is expected to return at the Cincinnati Open from August 10, giving himself more preparation time before the hard courts and the final Grand Slam of the season.

Jannik Sinner at the 2024 Canadian Open - he reached the quarterfinals and lost to Andrey Rublev.

2. Carlos Alcaraz

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz will reach four months away from competition since his last match at the Barcelona Open in mid-April.

The Spaniard has taken his time managing his wrist injury and will not have much competitive preparation before defending his US Open title. To avoid putting unnecessary pressure on his recovery, he chose to skip the Canadian Open for the second consecutive year and will return in Cincinnati, where he will defend his title.

3. Novak Djokovic

Another player who decided to carefully manage his schedule is Novak Djokovic, with the Serbian once again choosing to skip the Canadian Open.

At this stage of his career, the 24-time Grand Slam champion seemingly does not consider the tournament a priority on his calendar, having missed the event in the last seven editions. His last appearance came back in 2018, when he reached the third round.

The owner of a record 40 Masters 1000 titles has little left to prove in this category and will instead use Cincinnati as preparation for the US Open, his final major objective of the season. With four Canadian Open titles — his last one coming in 2016 — Djokovic has once again opted to extend his recovery and rest period before returning in Cincinnati.

Novak Djokovic has not participated in the Canadian Open since 2018.

4. Stefanos Tsitsipas

Just a few weeks ago, Stefanos Tsitsipas was outside the top 80 and had failed to secure direct entry into the main draw. Although his ranking decline was not surprising given his inconsistency over the last two seasons, the Greek found a resurgence last week at the Swiss Open Gstaad, winning his first title in 16 months and showing improved signs in his tennis.

Tsitsipas climbed more than 30 ranking positions to reach No. 51, but he did so after the entry list for the Canadian Open had already been released.

His low ranking from previous weeks worked against him, meaning he is not included in the main draw and will miss the tournament. Instead, he will have to focus on qualifying at the Cincinnati Open after also failing to secure direct entry into the next Masters 1000 event.

5. Arthur Fery

The Wimbledon semifinalist had not yet broken into the top 100 when the Canadian Open entry list was published.

The Brit was one of the biggest surprises of the grass-court swing, producing impressive victories before being defeated by Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon semifinals. His run renewed British hopes at SW19 and he will now look to prove on hard courts that he can maintain that level across different surfaces.

The 24-year-old will still compete in Canadian Open qualifying, where he faces a difficult path alongside several top names searching for a place in the main draw.

Among those also attempting to qualify are 2024 Canadian Open champion Alexei Popyrin, Jenson Brooksby and Thanasi Kokkinakis.

6. Karolina Muchova

Karolina Muchova will miss the Canadian Open after suffering an injury just days after her impressive run to the Wimbledon final, where she lost a heartbreaking all-Czech battle against Linda Noskova.

The world No. 6 had already enjoyed a strong 2026 season, winning her first WTA 1000 title in Doha earlier this year, and was set to be one of the biggest names in the women’s draw in Toronto. Her absence leaves the tournament without one of its top-ranked contenders and makes her the only top-10 player missing from the field.

Muchova remains entered for Cincinnati and the US Open, where she hopes to return at full fitness. The Czech recently revealed that she underwent a “minor surgery” in the days following Wimbledon, but her team expects her to be ready for the final part of the hard-court summer.

Karolina Muchova reached her second Grand Slam final at Wimbledon 2016, where she was defeated by her compatriot Linda Noskova.

7. Victoria Mboko

Victoria Mboko will not be able to defend her Canadian Open title after the teenager was forced to withdraw due to an injury suffered during the grass-court swing.

A year ago, the Canadian became one of the biggest stories of the season when she captured her first WTA 1000 title in Toronto. Ranked world No. 85 at the time, Mboko entered the main draw with a wildcard and defeated Naomi Osaka in the final to become the lowest-ranked player ever to win the tournament.

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The 19-year-old’s breakthrough immediately pushed her into the spotlight, but her recent absence has come at a significant cost. After missing Wimbledon, Mboko has dropped out of the top 10 and will also miss the entire North American hard-court swing, including the US Open.

Her extended time away from competition means she will likely return much lower in the rankings, potentially close to falling outside the top 15 by the time she is ready to compete again.

Victoria Mboko smiling while holding the trophy

Mboko defeated Naomi Osaka in three sets to lift her first career trophy, becoming the third Canadian to win the home-country tournament

8. Jasmine Paolini

Jasmine Paolini announced on Instagram that a lingering foot injury will keep her away from competition for several weeks, forcing her to skip both the DC Open and Canadian Open.

The Italian has dealt with the issue throughout recent months, with the injury already affecting her ability to compete at full capacity. It forced her to withdraw from doubles at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and she will now focus on recovering ahead of the next stage of the season.

The two-time Grand Slam finalist is targeting a return at the Cincinnati Open, where she reached the final in 2025. The tournament will represent an important opportunity for Paolini to defend a significant amount of ranking points and maintain her position inside the top 20 after more than two years among the elite.

9. Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu showed encouraging signs during her run to the Queen’s Club final last month, but the physical demands of that week ultimately proved costly.

After playing several matches in a short period, the 2021 US Open champion was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a stress fracture. The injury will keep the Brit away from competition for several weeks, ruling her out of both Toronto and Cincinnati.

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Raducanu is now targeting a return at the US Open, although she will arrive in New York without any hard-court matches since March. Her recent drop in the rankings — currently sitting at world No. 47 — also means she could lose the opportunity to be seeded at Flushing Meadows.

The former Grand Slam champion will hope to recover in time for the tournament where she created one of the most memorable stories in recent tennis history.

Great Britain's Emma Raducanu with the runners up trophy following her loss to Croatia's Donna Vekic after the Women's singles final match on day seven of the HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club

10. Paula Badosa

Paula Badosa has been one of the most encouraging comeback stories in recent weeks after falling outside the top 100 earlier this season.

The former world No. 2 has rediscovered her level since Wimbledon, winning 11 of her last 13 matches and showing strong form during the European clay-court tournaments. Her results included a WTA 125 title in Bastad and final in Iasi, which helped secure her place in the US Open main draw and return to the top 100.

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Despite her recent improvement, Badosa is expected to remain out of competition until the US Open unless she receives a late wildcard opportunity.

The Spaniard has looked physically and mentally stronger in recent weeks and will now focus on arriving in New York ready to continue her resurgence at the final Grand Slam of the season.

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.

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