{"id":2060977,"date":"2026-07-25T09:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T06:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2060977"},"modified":"2026-07-25T09:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T06:00:12","slug":"the-five-canadian-open-favourites-following-jannik-sinner-and-novak-djokovics-withdrawals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2060977","title":{"rendered":"The five Canadian Open favourites following Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic\u2019s withdrawals"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">The five Canadian Open favourites following Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic\u2019s withdrawals<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/liam-mcmillen\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Liam McMillen                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"25 Jul 2026 10:00 AM\" data-ps-date=\"25 Jul 2026 10:00 AM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1784970012\"><br \/>\n                            25 Jul 2026 10:00 AM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                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            <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"The five Canadian Open favourites following Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic\u2019s withdrawals\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sinner-Djokovic-Aus-Open-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic with the Australian Open trophy\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic with the Australian Open trophy                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/jannik-sinner\">Jannik Sinner<\/a> and Novak Djokovic have left a gaping hole in the Canadian Open entry list as they have decided not to play the Masters event yet again.<\/p>\n<p>Along with Carlos Alcaraz, the Masters 1000 tournament is now looking particularly devoid of star power as the North American hardcourt swing begins.<\/p>\n<p>Just seven of the top 10 will be playing the event now, giving some of the potential challengers a massive opportunity to claim a major title and 1000 ranking points.<\/p>\n<p>Here are five players who now have a real opportunity to win the Canadian Open.<\/p>\n<h2>Alexander Zverev<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/alexander-zverev\">Alexander Zverev<\/a> has truly stepped up in the absence of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/carlos-alcaraz\">Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> and he now has the opportunity to claim yet another top prize this season.<\/p>\n<p>Zverev won his first Grand Slam title at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/roland-garros\">Roland Garros<\/a> and followed it up by reaching the final of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/wimbledon\">Wimbledon<\/a> for the first time in his career.<\/p>\n<p>The German has hit peak form in the absence of Alcaraz and he will now be the favourite to lift the Canadian Open title in the absence of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Djokovic<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/jannik-sinner\">Sinner<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>More tennis news<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/jannik-sinner-novak-djokovic-canadian-open-writhdrawals\">ATP Canadian Open withdrawal list: Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic join growing list of absentees<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/carlos-alcaraz-wrist-injury-comeback-kyle-edmund-exclusive\">Carlos Alcaraz sent clear message about his injury comeback by former British No 1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Zverev hasn\u2019t won the Canadian Open for nine years, since he lifted the Masters title in 2017. That year saw him beat the likes of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/roger-federer\">Roger Federer<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/nick-kyrgios\">Nick Kyrgios<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/richard-gasquet\">Richard Gasquet<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He will likely have a much easier route to the title in 2026 and if he does win he will be able to make yet more ground up on Sinner in the World No 1 spot in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/ATP-Tour\">ATP Tour<\/a> rankings.<\/p>\n<h2>Felix Auger-Aliassime<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/Felix-Auger-ALiassime\">Felix Auger-Aliassime<\/a> has never played his best tennis at the Canadian Open, but he will never get a better chance to earn his first-ever title on home soil.<\/p>\n<p>The Canadian has reached the quarter-finals of the tournament just once in his seven appearances, suffering exits in the third round or earlier in the other six.<\/p>\n<p>However, Auger-Aliassime has proved himself an exceptional hardcourt player over the years and no one will want to come up against him in Montreal.<\/p>\n<p>His semi final appearance at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/us-open\">US Open<\/a> last year is proof he can perform on the biggest hardcourt stages and he might just have the perfect chance to claim the first Masters title of his career.<\/p>\n<h2>Taylor Fritz<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/Taylor-Fritz\">Taylor Fritz<\/a> looked one of the clear favourites to step up in the absence of Alcaraz, but that failed to materialise at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/roland-garros\">Roland Garros<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/wimbledon\">Wimbledon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The American was beaten in the first round of Roland Garros and then was comfortably dispatched by Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon quarter finals.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, Fritz showed impressive form on the grass court swing, in Stuttgart and Halle, and he will be hoping to hit the ground running of the North American hardcourt swing.<\/p>\n<p>The only worry for Fritz is he failed to capitalise on this exact opportunity at the Canadian Open last year. He dropped out of the semi finals in a year where Alcaraz, Djokovic, and Sinner didn\u2019t play.<\/p>\n<p>Could he have learnt from his mistake this time around?<\/p>\n<h2>Ben Shelton<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/ben-shelton\">Ben Shelton<\/a> will be seething from his Wimbledon first round exit, particularly as he entered the grass court event in sublime form before SW19.<\/p>\n<p>The American has plenty of pressure on him at the Canadian Open, as the defending champion, but he has all the tools to lift the title once again.<\/p>\n<p>His power game works perfectly for the hardcourt swing and there are not many on the Tour who can deal with his big weapons, particularly without Djokovic, Sinner, and Alcaraz.<\/p>\n<p>Shelton now has the perfect opportunity to become the first back-to-back champion at the Canadian Open since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/rafael-nadal\">Rafael Nadal<\/a> lifted consecutive titles in 2018 and 2019.<\/p>\n<h2>Arthur Fils<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/arthur-fils\">Arthur Fils<\/a> has shown impressive signs in the 2026 season that he has the tools to become the next man to challenge the Sinner and Alcaraz duopoly.<\/p>\n<p>Since returning from injury in February, the star has reached the final of the Qatar Open and lifted the Barcelona Open title.<\/p>\n<p>He will want to bounce back from his second round exit at Wimbledon and he\u2019s shown promising signs at Masters level across the 2026 season.<\/p>\n<p>The Frenchman has reached semi finals in Miami and Madrid and there is every chance he can go two further by winning the Canadian Open this year.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The five Canadian Open favourites following Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic\u2019s withdrawals Liam McMillen 25 Jul 2026 10:00 AM Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic with the Australian Open trophy Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have left a gaping hole in the Canadian Open entry list as they have decided not to play the Masters event [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2060977","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2060977","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2060977"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2060977\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2060977"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2060977"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2060977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}