'I need to recover': Carlos Alcaraz confirms withdrawal from Canadian Open

Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed he won't be playing in the Canadian Open, ending speculation about his time off the courts. The Spanish tennis player was on the confirmed entry list for the upcoming Masters 1000, and although there had been rumors of his absence, his agent, Albert Molina, had stated that nothing was decided yet.

However, the 5-time Grand Slam champion officially clarified that he will not compete in this year's tournament, which starts on July 28. Fans will have to wait another couple of weeks for his return. The Spaniard last played in the Wimbledon final on Sunday, July 13, where he squandered a one-set lead and ultimately fell to his great rival, Jannik Sinner. This loss meant he failed to defend the title he had won in 2023 and 2024.

In recent months, Alcaraz has been by far the best player on Tour, with a remarkable run between the clay and grass swings, where he amassed 24 consecutive wins and three consecutive titles at the Rome Open, Roland Garros, and Queen's Club Championships.

Alcaraz entered the Wimbledon final as the top favorite, boasting a 20-match winning streak at the All England Club. However, Sinner found solutions against a tough opponent and ultimately secured a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory. With this, Sinner claimed his 4th major title and ended a negative streak of five consecutive losses against Alcaraz—the last three in finals.

A break before the hardcourt swing

The demanding ATP Tour season has led several top stars to adjust their schedules at this point in the year, seeking to avoid injuries that could keep them from their main objectives. With the US Open being the last Grand Slam of the year, it's undoubtedly the major event both Sinner and Alcaraz desperately want to win.

A few days ago, it was confirmed that the Italian, Sinner, would not play in the Canadian Open, as he planned to take a bit more rest before starting the hardcourt swing. Sinner decided to skip Canada to reappear at the Cincinnati Open, the only tournament he'll play before the US Open. Shortly after, it was learned that Novak Djokovic would follow the same formula, while Jack Draper would wait until the US Open to reappear—though the latter is due to recovering from an injury.

A day ago, speculation began that Alcaraz might withdraw from the Canadian Open—following in the footsteps of Sinner and Djokovic—to reappear at the Cincinnati Open. And while it was almost considered a done deal, Alcaraz's agent stated this Monday morning that no decision had yet been made.

However, Alcaraz's confirmation recently came via a social media post, where he explained his reasons for not traveling to Canada this year: "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 I need to recover physically and mentally for what comes next. To the tournament and to my fans in Canada I am very sorry, I will see you next year! ❤️"

Alcaraz will now have a couple more weeks to recharge and prepare for the hardcourt swing in Spain before traveling to North America. There, he'll head to Cincinnati as his first stop to find his rhythm on hardcourts, marking the first event where Sinner and Alcaraz will share a draw after Wimbledon. After that tournament, he'll have a week of preparation before competing in the US Open, where both will once again battle for a new major title, with Sinner as the first seed and Alcaraz as the second seed.

The coming weeks also promise a tightening competition for the top ranking spot, considering Alcaraz doesn't defend many points in this part of the year, while Sinner defends titles in both Cincinnati and the US Open. By the end of the year's fourth Grand Slam, "Carlitos" could return to the top of the rankings if things go well for him.