The North American hard-court season begins this week with the Canadian Open in Montreal, but two of tennis's leading names will be absent. Carlos Alcaraz, who has not played since April due to a wrist injury, and Novak Djokovic, who lost in the Wimbledon semifinals last month, have both withdrawn from Montreal. Alcaraz missed the French Open and Wimbledon with tenosynovitis of De Quervain, while Djokovic opted to skip the event to prepare for the US Open.

Alcaraz, 23, has been practising on hard courts and appears close to returning. His name appears on the entry list for the US Open, and he is expected to compete at the Cincinnati Masters, where he is defending the title he won against Jannik Sinner in 2025. He also defends the US Open crown. Before his injury, Alcaraz completed the career Grand Slam by beating Djokovic in the Australian Open final in January. In recent weeks, the Spaniard has drawn attention for a new hairstyle — cornrows — which attracted criticism from fans on social media. He previously shaved his head before the 2025 US Open, suggesting a pattern of pre-tournament rituals.

Djokovic announced on Instagram that he will return to competition in Cincinnati, a tournament he last played in 2023 when he defeated Alcaraz in a three-set final. The 24-time Grand Slam winner, currently ranked world number five, said he would not play in Montreal. The Canadian event has also lost world number one Jannik Sinner, leaving Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Daniil Medvedev as leading contenders. The absence of the top seeds has opened the draw for lower-ranked players, including Brazilian João Fonseca, who becomes the 24th seed, his first such status.

The Cincinnati Masters begins on August 13, followed by the US Open on August 30. Djokovic will seek his 25th Grand Slam title, while Alcaraz aims to defend his US Open crown after a four-month layoff. Argentine players, led by Francisco Cerúndolo, will also feature, hoping to improve on modest North American hard-court records.