The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has renewed its concerns over the demands of the tennis calendar following a series of high-profile withdrawals from the Canadian Open.
The men’s tournament in Montreal has been hit by the absences of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, while Carlos Alcaraz is also missing with a wrist injury. Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew before his opening match with a back injury.
On the women’s side, defending champion Victoria Mboko, Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova, Emma Raducanu and Jasmine Paolini are also absent with injuries.
The PTPA said it was “saddened but not surprised” by the withdrawals, arguing that reduced recovery time between tournaments was contributing to injuries occurring earlier in the season and becoming more serious.
The players’ group said it had collected and analyzed injury data from more than 30,000 professional matches across all levels of the sport over the past eight years. Its analysis found that upper-body injuries increased by 42% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, while arm injuries were up 112% compared with the 2025 average.
“The evidence is clear: the season is too long, recovery time is shrinking, and injuries are occurring earlier and becoming more severe,” the PTPA said in a statement.
Read also : Tennis: Sinner withdraws from Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 due to injury
The group has also pointed to the expansion of the Masters 1000 calendar. Seven of the nine tournaments were extended to 12-day events under the ATP’s OneVision plan, with the longer format fully introduced in 2025.
According to the PTPA, the longer tournaments have reduced the time available for players to rest, train and travel between events, despite players having raised concerns about the schedule for years.
“Short-term commercial interests cannot come at the expense of player health,” the association said. “Protecting players isn’t just about today’s competitors, it is about protecting the future of tennis.”
The PTPA called for the calendar to be reviewed using player-health and injury data and said players should have a meaningful role in scheduling decisions. It also urged the ATP to consider reversing the 12-day Masters 1000 format.
