Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic both pulled out of Montreal on July 24, 2026, and with Carlos Alcaraz already absent through injury, the ATP Masters 1000 has lost the world’s top three names before a ball has been struck.
The 2026 National Bank Open begins on August 1, 2026, without the three players who have shaped men’s tennis all season. Sinner and Djokovic withdrew from the Montreal draw on July 24, joining Alcaraz, who has not competed since an April wrist injury ruled him out of the French Open and Wimbledon. Alexander Zverev inherits the top seeding, Félix Auger-Aliassime is seeded second in his home city, and an outright market that would normally carry a clear favourite is now one of the flattest of the hard-court swing.
Key Facts:
• Sinner and Djokovic withdrew from Montreal on July 24, 2026, days after the entry list was published — NBC Sports
• The 96-player draw originally attracted 71 of the ATP Tour’s top 72 players
• Alexander Zverev is top seed as the 2026 Roland Garros champion and Wimbledon runner-up
• Félix Auger-Aliassime, world No. 4, is seeded second — the highest-seeded Canadian in the tournament’s history
• The men’s event runs at IGA Stadium, Montreal to August 13; the women play at Sobeys Stadium, Toronto
Why the top three are all missing
The two withdrawals are workload decisions rather than fresh injuries. Sinner had just defended his Wimbledon title, beating Zverev in four sets, while Djokovic reached the semi-finals before Sinner ended his run. Both elected to protect their bodies ahead of the North American hard-court block. Alcaraz’s absence differs in kind: his wrist problem dates to April and has already cost him two majors.
“After carefully considering all the factors together with my team, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw from Montreal,” said Jannik Sinner. “It is never easy to miss such an important event, but we believe this is the right decision to prioritize my health.” (NBC Sports)
What the draw actually looks like now
Depth, not star power, is the story. Behind Zverev and Auger-Aliassime sit defending champion Ben Shelton, the world No. 5, plus Alex de Minaur, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz and Flavio Cobolli. Shelton’s defence is the sub-plot: North American hard courts are his best surface, and he arrives without the two men who have beaten him most this year.
How the tournament framed the losses
“We respect their decisions and understand that, with such a demanding schedule, players’ health must remain the priority,” said Valérie Tétreault, Tournament Director at the National Bank Open. (NBC Sports)
What this means for bettors
Market impact: removing the top three from a Masters 1000 flattens the outright book. Where a Sinner-led field concentrates implied probability in one name, the favourite’s price lengthens and the second tier shortens, spreading the margin across more runners. Because the withdrawals landed late, refreshed outright prices were not widely published at the time of writing — check the timestamp on any board, as pre-withdrawal numbers are stale. Odds appear in American format (a minus figure is the stake needed to win $100) or decimal, which includes the stake.
One market observation: flat outright books tend to move most in the bracket and to-reach-the-final markets rather than the outright, because a top-heavy draw no longer shelters the seeds. Whether Shelton’s price shifts further than Zverev’s across the opening rounds is the thing to watch.
Where the legal markets are: Ontario betting runs through operators licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) via iGaming Ontario. In the United States, New Jersey remains the deepest regulated tennis market, overseen by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE).
Market conditions correct as of July 30, 2026. Informational only — not financial or betting advice. 18+ / 21+ depending on jurisdiction. See Responsible Gambling notice below.
FAQ
Q: Why did Jannik Sinner withdraw from the 2026 National Bank Open?
A: Sinner cited health management after defending his Wimbledon title, calling it a difficult decision taken with his team rather than a response to a specific injury.
Q: Is Carlos Alcaraz playing in Montreal?
A: No. Alcaraz has been out since a right wrist injury in April 2026, which also forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon.
Q: Who is the top seed at the 2026 National Bank Open?
A: Alexander Zverev. Félix Auger-Aliassime is seeded second, the highest a Canadian has been seeded at the event. Our earlier reads on the DC Open 2026 market and the US Open 2026 outright picture both now need revisiting.
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