In an announcement made by Tennis Canada, Novak Djokovic has decided to withdraw from the National Bank Open in Toronto. The Serbian tennis star made this decision in order to prioritize his rest and recovery following his recent defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
The 36-year-old, who holds an impressive record of 23 Grand Slam titles, was looking forward to kick-starting his preparations for the U.S. Open during the hard-court season. However, after engaging in an intense five-set final against Alcaraz at Wimbledon, Djokovic and his team concluded that it would be best to take some additional time off.
Despite enjoying his past experiences in Canada and having won the National Bank Open four times before, Djokovic believes that the decision to skip this particular event is the most appropriate one for his physical and mental well-being.
“I extend my gratitude to Karl Hale, the tournament director, for understanding and respecting my decision. While I regret not being able to participate in this year’s National Bank Open, I sincerely hope to return to Canada and Toronto in the future and have the opportunity to play in front of the amazing fans there.”
Following Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal, American Christopher Eubanks will be granted an automatic entry into the main draw as his replacement. Eubanks comes into the tournament with impressive momentum, having surprised everyone with a remarkable quarterfinal run at Wimbledon. Notably, he defeated the likes of No. 5 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 12 seed Cam Norrie on his way to the final eight.
Karl Hale expressed his disappointment at Djokovic’s absence, recognizing the Serbian player’s incredible talent and acknowledging the enthusiasm of the fans to witness him in action at Sobeys Stadium. However, Hale reassured the tennis enthusiasts that the tournament still boasts an exceptional lineup of players, with 41 of the world’s top 42 players confirmed to participate.
The National Bank Open’s men’s side will take place at Toronto’s Sobeys Stadium from August 3 to August 13, while the women’s side will concurrently be hosted at Montreal’s IGA Stadium.
