Serbian Novak Djokovic will not participate in the National Bank Open, presented from August 5 to 14 in Montreal.
Tennis Canada has not provided an explanation for Djokovic’s withdrawal, announced Thursday along with the distribution of passes to Canadians Alexis Galarneau and Vasek Pospisil, Briton Andy Murray and Belgian David Goffin
The Canadian government still requires a 14-day quarantine for anyone not vaccinated against COVID-19 arriving in the country. Djokovic, who would not be vaccinated against COVID-19, missed earlier this season the Masters in Indian Wells and Miami since the United States does not allow the entry of non-vaccinated non-citizens.
The 21-time Grand Slam titleholder’s vaccination status could also prevent him from competing at the U.S. Open later this summer.
Last weekend, Djokovic said he was preparing as if he could play at Flushing Meadows.
The 35-year-old Djokovic was able to take part in Wimbledon, which he won, and the French Open, when he lost in the quarter-finals to eventual winner Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard holds the men’s record with 22 major singles titles.
Djokovic, however, missed the Australian Open in January after being deported from the country due to his vaccination status.
Tennis Canada has also announced that German Oscar Otte, 41st in the ATP rankings, is also withdrawing from the Omnium Banque Natioanle.
Because of these two withdrawals, the Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, 51st in the world, and the Australian Nick Kyrgios, 63rd, will go directly to the main draw.
Invitations for two Canadians
The news was also better for Murray, Galarneau, Pospisil and Goffin.
Murray won the Canadian tournament three times during his career (2009, 2010 and 2015). He quickly rose through the ranks this year, rising from 134th to 50th. In recent months, he has reached the final at the Sydney and Stuttgart tournaments.
For his part, Galarneau is ranked 238th in the world after starting the season at 378th. Last Sunday, he made it to the National Bank Challenger final in Winnipeg, beating tournament favorite Liam Broady, 131st in the world, along the way.
For his part, Pospisil, 141st, will participate in the National Bank Open for the 14th time. This season, he was crowned champion of the Quimper Challenger, in addition to reaching the quarter-finals at the Dallas Open. His best result in Montreal dates back to 2013, when he lost in the semi-final against his compatriot Milos Raonic.
Finally, Goffin, 60th, recently reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. Former No. 7 in the world, he will certainly try to improve on his best result in Canada which is a presence in the round of 16.
