Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic withdrew from Montreal's National Bank Open, reshaping a Masters 1000 around Alexander Zverev and home favourite Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Why it matters
Two marquee names are gone; seeding and ticket narratives flip to Zverev and FAA. Draw day on July 31 becomes the next ranking opportunity.
Coverage continues in tennis.
Hard-court path
Qualifying Aug 1, main draw Aug 2–13, then Cincinnati and the US Open. Some stars may skip Canada; others need match reps now.
Two weeks of content for one Masters
Withdrawals, draw, qualifying upsets, then weekend favourites — publish the sequence. Speed on the draw offsets lost head-term demand from Sinner and Djokovic.
Scenario map without the top names
Zverev stability, FAA home run or a qualifier shock — spell out the branches after the draw and keep daily wrap-ups coming for two weeks.
FAQ
Who withdrew?
Sinner and Djokovic.
Draw date?
31 July 2026.
The marquee names left — the draw will decide the real favourites.
