Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the National Bank Open due to fatigue, tournament organizers announced on Sunday. The Serbian has won the Canadian Open title on four previous occasions, in 2007, 2011 and 2012. The last time he participated in the tournament was in 2018.
“I have always enjoyed my time in Canada, but after speaking with our team, we believe this is the right decision,” Djokovic said in a press release issued by the ATP.
He thanked tournament director Carl Hale for being understanding of his choice and expressed his desire to return to an ATP Masters 1000 event in the future.
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“I want to thank Tournament Director Carl Hale for his understanding of this decision. I really hope that I can return to Canada in the years to come and play in front of great fans there in Toronto,” said the world No. 2.
Djokovic last competed wimbledon, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling match. In 2023, the 36-year-old is 33-5 and has titles at the Australian Open, French Open and Adelaide.
Karl Hell expressed his dismay at the absence of the Serb. The tournament director acknowledged Djokovic’s incredible talent and fans’ eagerness to see the Serb in action at Sobeys Stadium, before praising the outstanding list of players competing at the Canadian Open.
“Of course, we are disappointed that Novak will not play in the National Bank Open this year. He is an incredible player and we know our fans were looking forward to seeing him at the Sobeys Stadium. They will be missed but we still have a long list of sensational players confirmed for this year’s event, including 41 of the top 42 players in the world,” said Hale.
The 2023 Canadian Open is scheduled to begin on August 7.