The National Bank Open in Montreal will be missing one of its key attractions as Novak Djokovic has announced that he will not participate in the ATP 1000 tournament next week. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is currently engaged in the men’s singles tennis competition at the Paris Olympics, where he has progressed to the third round after a victory over long-time opponent Rafael Nadal.

At 37 years old, Djokovic has enjoyed significant success at the Canadian Masters, winning the event four times, yet he has yet to secure an Olympic gold medal, with his best finish being a bronze medal in 2008 in Beijing. Valerie Tetreault, the tournament director, expressed disappointment over Djokovic's absence but acknowledged his decision, wishing him success at the Olympics and for the rest of his season.

Despite his withdrawal, Tetreault emphasized that the tournament will still feature an impressive lineup, including 42 of the top 43 players globally. Roman Safiullin will step in to replace Djokovic and has automatically qualified for the main draw in Montreal. Additionally, the National Bank Open will occur on a different schedule this year due to the Paris Olympics, beginning and ending a day later than the usual timeline. The official draw for the tournament will take place on Saturday, with qualifications set to begin on Sunday.