By: Kwame Bediako
World No. 2 Tennis player, Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed he will skip next week’s Canadian Open in Toronto, citing the need to recover from muscle issues following his recent run to the Wimbledon final.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who lost to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final earlier this month, announced on social media that after consecutive weeks of intense competition, he requires physical and mental rest.
Alcaraz wrote, “After many consecutive weeks of competition without rest, I will not be able to play in Toronto this year. I have small muscle issues and need to recover physically and mentally for what comes next. To the tournament and my fans in Canada I am very sorry, I will see you next year.”
The five-time Grand Slam champion had enjoyed a strong season, capturing titles at the Italian Open, French Open, and Queen’s Club before his winning streak was halted at Wimbledon.
His withdrawal adds to a growing list of top stars missing the Canadian Open, including Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Britain’s Jack Draper. Sinner cited health prioritization, Djokovic is dealing with a groin injury and Draper is sidelined by an arm problem.
This absence of four of the world’s top six men’s players marks a significant change for the US Open warm-up event, which runs from July 27 to August 7.
The Canadian Open is also notable this year as the tournament transitions to an expanded 12-day, 96-player format, aiming to create even more headline-grabbing matchups.
Despite the high-profile withdrawals, fans can still expect competitive action as players fine-tune their form ahead of the US Open, which begins on August 24.
