Alexander Zverev, the world No. 2 and top seed at the National Bank Open in Montreal, expressed concerns about the extended format of ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, citing them as a factor behind several high-profile withdrawals, including those of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. The tournament, which adopted a 12-day schedule last year, is typically held in the lead-up to the US Open.
Zverev acknowledged that the longer duration makes these events feel as demanding as Grand Slam tournaments, potentially contributing to player fatigue and decisions to skip certain stops. “I think (the pullouts) are a result of the two week Masters event. I think it’s just too long for some players, too much before the US Open,” he said during a news conference at the IGA Stadium. He noted that he and his team had considered skipping Montreal this year but ultimately decided to compete, emphasizing his need to play matches to maintain form.
The German, who recently won his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros and was a finalist at Wimbledon, has faced Sinner multiple times this season, including losses in the Madrid final and Wimbledon final. He admitted that while he wishes he could have extended their latest match to a deciding set, he respects Sinner’s skill and views their repeated meetings as evidence of their consistency on tour.
Zverev also voiced skepticism about efforts to encourage full participation at Masters events under the current format. He suggested that increasing the length of these tournaments to nearly three weeks is unreasonable and that players should not be forced to compete under such demanding conditions. Noting Djokovic’s substantial career earnings, Zverev doubted the incentive of a larger bonus for playing all nine Masters events would influence the veteran’s decisions.
Reflecting on changes in the ATP calendar, he said, “I used to play more 500 events, 250 events when the Masters were shorter, but now I don’t do that on any more just because of time spent away and time spent on tournaments.” Despite the physical and scheduling challenges, Zverev hopes his participation in Montreal, where he claimed the title in 2017, will serve as valuable preparation for the upcoming hard-court swing, including Cincinnati and the US Open, which begins on August 30.
The Montreal tournament has faced difficulties with weather, as rain disrupted much of the opening day’s play. Among early results, China’s Jerry Shang defeated Paraguay’s Daniel Vallejo in straight sets before afternoon showers halted further matches.
Other notable players in the field include Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime, seeded second, along with Australians Alex de Minaur, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, and defending champion American Ben Shelton. With key absences this year, the event highlights ongoing debates on the balance between maintaining a competitive schedule and managing player welfare ahead of major championships.