World No. 2 Alexander Zverev has argued that financial penalties are unlikely to prevent leading tennis players from withdrawing from ATP Masters tournaments. His comments came as the Montreal Masters began without Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, leaving the Canadian tournament without three of the sport’s most prominent players. Alcaraz withdrew because of injury, while Djokovic and Sinner also opted not to compete in the first of two major events scheduled before the US Open begins on August 31.

Canadian tournament officials expressed frustration over the late withdrawals and reportedly called for stronger financial or sporting sanctions to discourage similar decisions. Masters events depend heavily on the participation of highly ranked players to attract spectators, broadcasters and sponsors, making late withdrawals particularly disruptive. However, Zverev said increasing financial consequences would have little effect on established players who have already earned substantial prize money and can prioritise their health, scheduling and preparations for Grand Slam tournaments.

Zverev explained that players can receive year-end bonuses for competing in all nine Masters events but questioned whether larger bonuses would influence someone in Djokovic’s position. He suggested that the 24-time Grand Slam champion would not be concerned about gaining or losing an additional $50,000. Zverev also made an unverified estimate of Djokovic’s personal wealth to reinforce his argument that relatively small financial incentives or fines would not alter the decisions of the sport’s highest-earning stars.

Also Read: Jannik Sinner Shows Champion's Resolve To Deny Alexander Zverev At Wimbledon

The German player also said Djokovic, now 39, was unlikely to be strongly influenced by the possibility of losing ranking points. Djokovic has occupied the top position in the ATP rankings for a record 428 weeks and was ranked fifth at the time of Zverev’s comments, behind Sinner, Alcaraz, Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Having already achieved several major records, Djokovic may place greater importance on managing his schedule and remaining physically prepared for the sport’s biggest tournaments.

Zverev entered the Montreal tournament as its top seed after finishing runner-up to Sinner at Wimbledon. His remarks have highlighted the broader dispute over an increasingly demanding tennis calendar and the obligation of leading players to participate in major tour events. While tournament organisers want stronger guarantees that top-ranked players will compete, athletes frequently stress the need for sufficient recovery and injury prevention. Zverev’s position suggests that scheduling reforms and player consultation may prove more effective than financial punishment in reducing withdrawals.

Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar Congratulates Jannik Sinner on Successfully Defending Wimbledon Title