Tennis is a sport that feels constantly at odds with its own biggest stars, as they strive for more favourable conditions amidst a difficult work environment.
After all, whilst playing professional tennis seems like a dream, what the players are forced to endure is unlike in any other sport, really.
The schedule is relentless, demanding so much both physically and mentally from all those with aspirations of achieving any kind of success.
And that is before even referencing the travel, which requires these superstars to trawl all around the world week after week to compete in heat, cold, wind and everything in between.
For some at the very top, their success has earned them an extra degree of freedom in this regard.
Jannik Sinner has now exercised his, making a controversial decision that has exposed one of the ATP Tour’s biggest flaws.
Why Jannik Sinner’s Canadian Open withdrawal should worry the ATP Tour
Sinner withdrawing from the Canadian Open surprised many given his form at the Masters 1000 events this year. However, that aside, it was actually not that much of a shock.
After all, since it pivoted from a one-week event to 12 days, interest from the players has plummeted dramatically.
This is the second straight year where he, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will all be absent, relegating a once prestigious tournament to now one of the most skippable on the tour.
The Canadian Open tournament director has discussed Sinner’s withdrawal, after promising he would attract players of his ilk back to the event after last year’s mess.
Having clearly now failed in that task, it only highlights the issues present here in Toronto and Montreal.
Jannik Sinner forfeits his chance at Masters 1000 history… What do you make of this decision? 😬
They have had their event totally nullified, and when the top players routinely prove this to be the case by omitting it from their schedule, alarm bells should be ringing.
Perhaps this might actually prove to be the catalyst that tells the powers that be all they need to know about 12-day Masters 1000 tournaments.
Nearly every top player has complained about the 12-day Masters 1000 events
Realistically, it should come as no surprise that the Canadian Open has become arguably the most expendable Masters 1000 event on the tennis calendar.
After all, it has arguably suffered the most from the revamped 12-day format, which almost every top player has come out against. It’s only natural that they would practice what they preach and skip it where possible.
Even Sinner himself has explained his love for the old schedule, once stating: “My personal view, I love the one-week events.
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“Now, here [in Cincinnati] it’s Monday. In Toronto, it’s Wednesday or Thursday. So it’s difficult even for us players. We lose a little bit of the days of the week, I would say.”
Carlos Alcaraz has echoed that sentiment too, adding: “The one-week ones are better. Some will think that in two weeks there are days of rest, but that is not the case.”
Alexander Zverev was arguably the harshest critic of the 12-day Masters 1000s, whilst Novak Djokovic gave his personal view: “It depends really from which angle you’re looking at it.
“I mean, I’m personally, overall, not a fan of that because I feel like we already have four Grand Slams a year that take two plus one week eventually if you go all the way with training.”
