Greg Rusedski Blames Two-Week Masters 1000 Format for Jannik Sinner’s Canadian Open Withdrawal: “He Doesn’t Want to Burn Out Before US Open”

Jannik Sinner will not be competing at the Canadian Open for the second consecutive time. Last year, after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, Sinner started his campaign on the North American hardcourt swing at the Cincinnati Masters.

This season, he is following the same schedule. He chose not to compete in Canada after his Wimbledon title defense. Sinner is next scheduled to play in Cincinnati.

Last year, the ATP changed the format of both the Masters 1000s before the US Open. They used to be week-long events, but now, they are held over two weeks. Greg Rusedski thinks the reason behind Sinner’s withdrawal is the changed format.

So he won all the Masters Series going in. And then in Paris, he was a little bit tired. So he’s looking at preparation to win in New York. He wants to win a second Slam this year. He wants to be World No.1 at the end of the year again. And it’s just too long. Let’s look at it. Some players go to Washington. Montreal is a two-week event.

Greg Rusedski said on his Off Court with Greg podcast

In Cincinnati last year, the five-time Grand Slam champion played the final against Alcaraz but was forced to retire mid-match. After Cincinnati, Sinner will be bidding to win the US Open for the second time. He lost to the seven-time Grand Slam champion in the final last year.

Then Cincinnati is a two-week event. Then you’ve got a week in between before the US Open. So most Europeans don’t want to get there too early. In my day it was a lot easier. You play Cincinnati for one week. Montreal was one week, or Toronto, whichever way the order was. Week off, then the [US] Open. So being away that much time is too long. And also he doesn’t want to burn out before the US Open.

Greg Rusedski added

Sinner has so far clinched six titles this season. He first lifted the first five Masters 1000s (Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Monte Carlo, and Rome), and later beat Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final.

Simone Vagnozzi lauds Jannik Sinner’s mental fortitude

Jannik Sinner, without any doubt, is the most consistent player on the ATP tour at the moment, and this level of consistency requires ultra-focus. Sinner has also shown his ability to bounce back from the toughest of upsets to win titles.

Last year, following his French Open heartbreak (lost three match points against Carlos Alcaraz), the 24-year-old took his revenge on the Spaniard in the Wimbledon final. And this year, he lost in the second round of the French Open, but instead of brooding over the disappointment, he got back to work and eventually defended his crown at the All England Club.

And for his winning mentality, he received high praise from his coach, Simone Vagnozzi. During his interview with Corriere della Sera, Vagnozzi said:

Even if you give him a hard blow after a match, the next day he reflects, reacts, and accepts what you have told him. His greatest quality is that he likes to have people around him who tell him what he does not want to hear.

Vagnozzi joined Sinner’s team in February, 2022. The same year, Australian coach Darren Cahill also became a part of Sinner’s entourage.

All the Big Titles that Sinner has won were under the tutelage of Cahill and Vagnozzi (five Grand Slams, two ATP Finals, and 10 Masters 1000s). Cahill wanted to retire from coaching after the end of the 2025 season, but they chose to extend their partnership for this season.

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