Ben Shelton will soon be faced with the task of defending his Masters 1000 trophy in Montréal. Much like his title run in Toronto last year, the American will enter the tournament with the sport’s biggest names, including Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic, absent from the field.
While the official reason for Sinner and Djokovic’s withdrawals from the tournament is “change of schedule,” Alcaraz is missing due to his ongoing injury recovery.
Amid Jannik Sinner’s Exit, Ben Shelton Believes the Present Tennis Schedule Is Not Sustainable
The ATP Tour calendar currently includes nine Masters 1000 tournaments. The season begins with the Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami, with both tournaments featuring 96-player draws for more than 20 years. Meanwhile, in an attempt to give lower-ranked players more opportunities, the Madrid Open, Italian Open, and Shanghai Masters — all of which were previously one-week events — joined the club in 2023.
The Cincinnati Open and Canadian Open followed suit last year, expanding into 11-day events. The decision, however, was soon met with criticism from players and fans alike, given the already congested tennis calendar.
When asked about the rising withdrawals ahead of the Mubadala DC Open, Shelton said, “For the tournaments and the players, I’m not sure how sustainable the current setup of the tour is. I think for me the biggest thing I’m seeing is the injuries.”
Long before the draw was expanded to 96 players, the Canadian Open was already facing challenges due to its placement so close to Wimbledon. Sinner, the two-time reigning Wimbledon champion, chose to skip the event to focus on recovery, while Djokovic has not featured at the tournament since 2018.
Ben Shelton pointed out Sinner’s remarkable 44-3 record for 2026 to highlight the number of matches he has played this season. “But then you have a guy like Sinner, who is winning as many matches as he is; his match count is so high. How is the guy going to go and play every tournament? I don’t think it’s sustainable.”
Sinner attempted a non-stop schedule between Indian Wells and the French Open this year, playing six consecutive tournaments. While he won the first five tournaments, the strategy ultimately appeared to backfire as he crashed out in the second round in Paris.
“Obviously he knows his body better than everyone, as do all the players out here. If they feel fit and ready to compete and mentally ready, they’re going to go play the tournament. They’re not just going to sit out for no reason, in my opinion,” Shelton continued. “So there’s got to be some sort of give.”
When the star trio pulled out of the 2025 edition in Toronto, Shelton made the most of the opportunity to win his maiden Masters 1000 title. The American has already won three titles this season, but his form has lacked consistency. It remains to be seen whether he can replicate that success at the Montréal edition.
