Jannik Sinner has chosen to forgo his chance of making unprecedented tennis history.
Sinner, the world number one, had already made history by becoming the only man to win the first five Masters 1000 events of a calendar year.
The Italian triumphed in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome from March to the end of May.
Consequently, Sinner had the opportunity to achieve what no other has before: win all nine Masters 1000 events in a single campaign.
However, the Italian’s chances of accomplishing this feat ended earlier this week when he withdrew from the Canadian Open.
Jannik Sinner forfeits his chance at Masters 1000 history… What do you make of this decision? 😬
Rennae Stubbs has now thrown her support behind Sinner’s decision, claiming that the Italian may have learned from a mistake made earlier in the season.
Rennae Stubbs supports Jannik Sinner’s Canadian Open withdrawal
“I don’t blame Jannik for not playing,” Stubbs, who is coaching Serena Williams, stated on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.
“It was a bear of a schedule for him, doing what he did. He played all those clay court tournaments, lost that really tough match at the French, then goes and wins Wimbledon.
“He does not play anything prior. Maybe he learnt a lesson about the load of tennis which he did before the French.”
As mentioned already, Sinner played every significant ATP from March to May; winning five titles.
He was then dumped out of Roland Garros in the second round by Juan Manuel Cerundolo after suffering a bout of severe cramps midway through the contest.
Stubbs added: “Then people have the audacity to be like he has an opportunity to win all the Masters 1000 this year, why wouldn’t he do it?
“Do you think he cares about that? He has so many records now for being the youngest to do this and that. He has just won Wimbledon.
“His only thinking right now is how can I win the US Open, so not playing in Canada clearly opens up the book a little bit for him to get the rest that he needs then do the work load in Cincinnati.”
Stubbs is correct in her assessment of Sinner’s current priorities.
Sinner has already made tennis history in numerous ways throughout the 2026 campaign – risking his physical and mental state ahead of the US Open in order to chase statistical records would be a foolish decision.
| Year | Winner | Tournament | Round | Surface | Score |
| 2026 | Sinner | ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo | Final | Outdoor Clay | 76(5) 63 |
| 2025 | Sinner | Nitto ATP Finals | Final | Indoor Hard | 76(4) 75 |
| 2025 | Alcaraz | US Open | Final | Outdoor Hard | 62 36 61 64 |
| 2025 | Alcaraz | ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati | Final | Outdoor Hard | 50 RET |
| 2025 | Sinner | Wimbledon | Final | Outdoor Grass | 46 64 64 64 |
| 2025 | Alcaraz | Roland Garros | Final | Outdoor Clay | 46 67(4) 64 76(3) 76(2) |
| 2025 | Alcaraz | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Final | Outdoor Clay | 76(5) 61 |
| 2024 | Alcaraz | Beijing | Final | Outdoor Hard | 67(6) 64 76(3) |
| 2024 | Alcaraz | Roland Garros | Semifinal | Outdoor Clay | 26 63 36 64 63 |
| 2024 | Alcaraz | ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells | Semifinal | Outdoor Hard | 16 63 62 |
| 2023 | Sinner | Beijing | Semifinal | Outdoor Hard | 76(4) 61 |
| 2023 | Sinner | ATP Masters 1000 Miami | Semifinal | Outdoor Hard | 67(4) 64 62 |
| 2023 | Alcaraz | ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells | Semifinal | Outdoor Hard | 76(4) 63 |
| 2022 | Alcaraz | US Open | Quarterfinal | Outdoor Hard | 63 67(7) 67(0) 75 63 |
| 2022 | Sinner | Umag | Final | Outdoor Clay | 67(5) 61 61 |
| 2022 | Sinner | Wimbledon | Round of 16 | Outdoor Grass | 61 64 67(8) 63 |
| 2021 | Alcaraz | ATP Masters 1000 Paris | Round of 32 | Indoor Hard | 76(1) 75 |
Jannik Sinner’s next tennis event
After withdrawing from Canada, Sinner’s next event is set to be the Cincinnati Open.
The event, which is set to take place from August 13 to 26, is also set to feature Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz, a seven-time major champion, suffered a wrist injury at April’s Barcelona Open and has been absent from the Tour ever since.
Jannik Sinner’s projected North American swing after withdrawing from the Canadian Open
- Cincinnati Open – August 13 to 26
- US Open – August 30 to September 13
Alcaraz and Sinner met in the final of last year’s Cincinnati Open.
Alcaraz emerged victorious from the contest after Sinner withdrew at 0-5 due to illness.
“After the third game, I just noticed that he wasn’t feeling good at all,” Alcaraz said of Sinner after the match.
Rate Carlos Alcaraz’s chances of defending his US Open title with barely any warm-up 😬
“I know him. I’ve been battling against him for two years, having great matches, great battles. I know his style, his game. I noticed that he was being more aggressive than he used to be.
“He was missing more often. I thought that it was pretty weird from him. I noticed that the body language wasn’t the best for him.”
