In a surprising turn of events, tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the 2025 Canadian Open, citing ongoing recovery needs following a grueling season. The announcement, made just days before the ATP Masters 1000 event in Montreal, has sent ripples through the tennis community, with former world No. 1 Andy Roddick offering candid insights into the young Spaniard’s decision and its implications for his career. Alcaraz, the 21-year-old phenom with four Grand Slam titles, including a successful French Open defense in 2025, has been a dominant force, but his withdrawal raises questions about his physical resilience and strategic priorities as the US Open looms.
Alcaraz’s decision to skip the Canadian Open comes on the heels of a demanding year that saw him clinch the French Open in an epic five-hour, 29-minute final against Jannik Sinner, marking the longest final in Roland Garros history. His post-tournament retreat to Ibiza, a tradition to unwind after the clay season, was notably more restrained this year, a move Roddick praised as a sign of maturity. “He went to Ibiza for like three days, he goes, ‘Yeah, yeah, but I only took it super deep one night.’ That was so good,” Roddick remarked on his *Served with Andy Roddick* podcast, chuckling at Alcaraz’s disciplined approach. “This is new Carlos. This isn’t the same Carlos as last year.” However, the physical toll of the season, compounded by a packed schedule and exhibition matches, appears to have caught up with the world No. 3, prompting his withdrawal to focus on recovery.
Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, expressed a mix of understanding and caution regarding Alcaraz’s choice. While acknowledging the necessity of rest, he emphasized the importance of managing energy for the upcoming US Open, where Alcaraz aims to add to his 2022 title. “I don’t want to hear about it in Australia if he’s not feeling great,” Roddick stated firmly, referencing Alcaraz’s past complaints about the ATP’s grueling schedule. The Spaniard has been vocal about the calendar’s intensity, once joking that the ATP “are going to kill us in some way” due to the relentless string of tournaments. Roddick, while sympathetic, pointed out the contradiction in Alcaraz’s participation in high-paying exhibition matches, such as those in New York and Charlotte in December 2024. “Carlos had a vacation in the Caribbean with some buddies for a week before he played these exhibitions. He’d already done his relaxation, got in some reps, obviously got paid a lot of money,” Roddick noted, highlighting the business side of tennis. “What other time would we tell somebody to not do their job for a massive paycheck?”
The Canadian Open withdrawal marks another chapter in Alcaraz’s 2025 season, which Roddick has described as “kind of weird.” Despite securing two Grand Slam titles—French Open and Wimbledon—in 2024, Alcaraz faced inconsistency, failing to win a tournament between Wimbledon and Indian Wells and suffering an early US Open exit to Botic van de Zandschulp. His 2025 campaign began with a quarter-final loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, followed by a title in Rotterdam but early exits in Qatar and Miami. Roddick has suggested Alcaraz adopt a more patient playing style to counter these fluctuations, advising him to “take this person’s legs out” in rallies rather than over-relying on aggressive shot-making. “I think he likes to be the one that dictates. That’s his superpower. Sometimes our superpowers can also be weaknesses when not used in the right moment,” Roddick explained.
Alcaraz’s absence from Montreal opens opportunities for other top players, including Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Novak Djokovic, to gain momentum on the North American hard courts. The Spaniard’s focus now shifts to preparing for the US Open, where he aims to become the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam. His team, led by coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, has faced scrutiny, but Roddick has staunchly defended their partnership, calling critics’ calls for a coaching change “nonsense.” “At just 21 years old, Alcaraz has already secured four Grand Slam titles and even claimed the world No. 1 ranking at 19,” Roddick said, underscoring Ferrero’s role in shaping the young star since age 15.
As the tennis world awaits Alcaraz’s return, his withdrawal underscores the delicate balance between ambition and physical limits for a player of his caliber. Roddick’s commentary highlights both admiration for Alcaraz’s talent and a pragmatic view of the demands of professional tennis. “He’s not going to be risking fitness with the arm injury. It’s not as if he’s going to come back, hopefully not looking for his pacing with his legs,” Roddick said, referencing Alcaraz’s 2024 arm injury that sidelined him for key clay events. With the US Open on the horizon, Alcaraz’s decision to prioritize recovery could prove pivotal in his quest for further glory, while fans and analysts alike watch closely to see if the “new Carlos” can sustain his meteoric rise.
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