PTPA cites player workload concerns after Canadian Open withdrawals

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has expressed concern over a series of withdrawals from the Canadian Open men's event in Montreal, citing increased risks due to the lengthy calendar and expanded top-level tournaments in professional tennis. The withdrawals include world number one Jannik Sinner, four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, and defending champion Victoria Mboko, among others.

The PTPA's analysis of injury data from over 30,000 matches over the past eight years reveals a worrying trend: upper-body injuries have increased by 42% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, while arm injuries have surged by 112% this year compared to the 2025 average. The expansion of seven Masters 1000 tournaments to 12-day events under the ATP's OneVision plan, initiated in 2025, is seen as a contributing factor to players experiencing earlier and more severe injuries.

The PTPA urges the sport to adopt a player-health and data-driven approach to restructuring the calendar, emphasizing that player well-being should not be compromised for short-term commercial interests.