Written by Rory Carroll
Event Context
The players’ advocacy group expressed their disappointment regarding the absentees at the tournament, stating that the lack of sufficient recovery time between events is leading to earlier and more severe injuries this season. Among the notable absences on the women’s side are defending champion Victoria Mboko, Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova, Emma Raducanu, and Jasmine Paolini, all of whom are sidelined due to injuries. The tournament’s first quarter-final matches are set to commence later today. Tournament officials had previously acknowledged that frequent last-minute withdrawals from Masters 1000 events have become a growing concern within the sport. In response, the ATP has extended the duration of seven of its nine Masters 1000 tournaments to 12 days as part of its OneVision strategy, with this new format expected to debut in the 2025 season. The PTPA emphasized that this change has diminished players’ time for rest, training, and travel between tournaments, despite ongoing concerns raised by athletes about their demanding schedules. They urged for a player-centered and data-informed reevaluation of the tournament calendar, advocating for greater player involvement in schedule formation and a reduction in mandatory tournament obligations to ensure proper recovery.
Player Focus
On August 10, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) highlighted the impact of recent withdrawals from the Canadian Open, indicating that the demanding schedule of professional tennis and the increase in high-level events heighten the risk of player injuries.
During the men’s event in Montreal, notable absences included world number one Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, along with Carlos Alcaraz, who was unable to compete due to a wrist injury. Additionally, local favorite Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew because of a back injury ahead of his first match.
In its analysis, the PTPA reported gathering data on injuries from over 30,000 professional matches spanning eight years, a project initiated three years ago in collaboration with Dr. Robby Sikka, its medical director.
“The findings are undeniable: the season is excessively long, recovery periods are insufficient, and injuries are occurring sooner and becoming more serious,” the PTPA stated on social media.
The association emphasized, “Short-term commercial interests must not compromise player health. Protecting athletes is not only crucial for current competitors but also essential for the future of tennis.”
The ATP has previously asserted that players have the freedom to manage their own schedules and is actively exploring ways to motivate a balanced number of matches within the season.
Requests for comments from representatives of the ATP and WTA Tours went unanswered.
Team Analysis
The article calls for the ATP to contemplate a reversal of the current 12-day Masters 1000 tournament format.
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An analysis revealed that upper-body injuries surged by 42% during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same timeframe in 2025. Specifically, arm injuries experienced a dramatic increase of 112% this year when set against the 2025 average.
