The tennis world is reeling from a wave of high-profile withdrawals from the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto, with world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper among those pulling out, prompting retired American star John Isner to unleash a scathing critique of the North American summer schedule. Alcaraz, fresh off a Wimbledon final loss, cited “small muscle issues” and the need to “recover physically and mentally” for his absence, a decision that underscores the grueling demands of the newly expanded 12-day tournament format. Isner’s blunt assessment, “It’s so bad,” echoes the growing frustration among players and fans, as the congested calendar—squeezed between Wimbledon’s July 13 finish and the US Open’s late August start—leaves little room for rest.
Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spaniard who has won five Grand Slams, including Wimbledon and the French Open in 2024, announced his withdrawal on social media, apologizing to fans: “I will not be able to play in Toronto this year, I have small muscles 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!” His decision follows a whirlwind season, with only one early exit at the Miami Open, but a packed off-season schedule of lucrative exhibitions in New York and North Carolina raised eyebrows. Isner, speaking on the *Nothing Major* podcast, warned that Alcaraz’s exhibition-heavy off-season could draw scrutiny if he falters at the upcoming Australian Open, noting, “I think if Carlos doesn’t perform that well at the Australian Open a lot of people are going to jump on the fact that he was in the United States in December playing exhibitions as opposed to getting ready.”
The Toronto tournament, running from July 27 to August 7, 2025, has been hit hard by absences. World No. 1 Sinner, nursing an elbow injury from a fall at Wimbledon, and Djokovic, citing a groin issue, joined Alcaraz and Draper in skipping the event. The expanded 12-day format, designed to offer fans more matches, has backfired, according to critics like Isner. “As we are both midway through Canada and on the cusp of Cincinnati, thoughts on how the newly revamped North American summer schedule is working out so far, tennis fans?” journalist Ben Rothenberg asked on X, to which Isner replied with his damning verdict. American No. 1 Taylor Fritz also voiced frustration, questioning why the tour keeps “adding stuff” when players crave shorter seasons. “A decade ago, finishing Wimbledon on July 12 meant players had 29 days before Canada’s main draw started on August 10. In 2025, the gap is chopped in half,” Fritz noted, highlighting the compressed timeline.[
Tournament director Nick Hale defended the extended format, arguing it benefits fans and broadcasting: “I just think the 12 days is bigger, better for the tournament, for the fans, more broadcasts … more kids watching and participating in tennis.” However, former player Bobby Mahal countered that players prioritize rest before the Cincinnati Open and US Open, saying, “That rest period is so crucial because you have got to remember that Sinner and Alcaraz played in the French Open, then they go all the way to the Wimbledon final.” The absence of top stars like Alcaraz, who reached the 2023 Toronto final, and Sinner, the Wimbledon champion, has left Alexander Zverev and Fritz as the highest seeds, with Zverev advancing to the semifinals after a 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-3 win over defending champion Alexei Popyrin.
Alcaraz’s withdrawal reflects a broader push for player welfare, a cause he’s championed. “We’re trying to change the schedule a bit, seeing if they can remove more tournaments so we can have more rest time, more vacation time. It’s not easy, but we’re trying,” he told the *Financial Times*. His 2024 complaints about a “tight” calendar, with “no days off,” were met with mixed reactions, especially after his exhibition appearances. Andy Roddick dismissed Alcaraz’s fatigue claims, noting his Caribbean vacation and hefty exhibition paychecks: “What other time would we tell somebody not to do their job for a massive paycheck? We’re adults; it’s a business.”
The controversy has sparked heated debate among fans. One X post lamented, “I just know the Canadian Open tournament director is mad as fu*k right now,” while another called the schedule a “crisis point” in tennis. With Cincinnati starting on August 7, overlapping with Toronto’s conclusion, players face relentless pressure. Alcaraz, Sinner, and Djokovic are expected to return in Cincinnati, aiming to peak for the US Open. For now, the depleted Toronto field, headlined by Zverev and Fritz, carries on, but Isner’s critique and Alcaraz’s absence have cast a shadow over the event, raising urgent questions about the sustainability of tennis’s demanding schedule.
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