Novak Djokovic withdrew from the ATP 1000 competition, therefore he won’t be taking part in the 2023 Canadian Open in Toronto. The 36-year-old Serbian has spent some time with his family after falling to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2023 Wimbledon Championships final. Many people hoped to witness their encounter earlier, even if he hinted that he plans to battle the young Spaniard at the 2023 US Open.
Karl Hale, the director of the Toronto Open commented saying “We are certainly unhappy that Novak Djokovic will not be competing in this year’s National Bank Open. He’s a tremendous player, and we know our supporters were excited to watch him play at Sobeys Stadium. He will be missed, but we have a lengthy list of incredible players confirmed for this year’s competition, including 41 of the world’s top 42 players.” (H/T Tennis Infinity)
Even though it was anticipated, the news stings more now that it is official. In spite of the fact that it is a serious setback for his tournament said Karl Hale. He expresses his “sadness” in a press release but correctly appreciates an event that will provide a very nice picture; we want to emphasize that this is true of many people than simply Novak Djokovic in life. The 36-year-old, who was denied his 24th Grand Slam victory by world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz following his loss in the Wimbledon men’s singles final on July 16, will not compete in the Canadian tournament, which is scheduled to take place from August 7 to 13.
The Serbian participant, who last competed in 2018, has won the singles championship in the competition four times. Christopher Eubanks, 27, from Atlanta, Georgia, will automatically be entered into the main draw as a result of his withdrawal from the Toronto tournament. At Wimbledon, Eubanks advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to Daniil Medvedev.
Related: Wimbledon 2023: What is the prize money for women’s singles champion?
Novak Djokovic’s statement on withdrawal from the tournament
Novak Djokovic withdrew from the competition, also known as the National Bank Open, citing weariness as the cause. In a statement, he praised the competition’s director Karl Hale for his understanding. He also stated that “Although I have always cherished my time in Canada, my team and I have decided that this is the best course of action. I appreciate Karl Hale, the tournament director, for being accepting of my choice. I sincerely hope to visit Toronto and Canada again in the upcoming years so I may play in front of the amazing fans there.”
It’s undoubtedly not the best news for the competition, as they would be delighted to host another round of the developing rivalry between Djokovic and Alcaraz. But because both are listed as entries for the Cincinnati Masters in 2023, that will now have to wait at least until then.
And while the news has grieved millions of fans across the world, Christopher Eubanks is one individual who is unquestionably joyful. The American had a great run at Wimbledon in 2023, and after Djokovic withdrew, he entered the main draw right away.
Given that both Novak Djokovic and Alcaraz were listed as entries for the 2023 Canadian Open in Toronto, one of those competitions may have included them. But it’s now official that Djokovic won’t be taking part in Toronto as previously reported.
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