Djokovic trims schedule misses Montreal

Novak Djokovic began the cull of his tennis calendar with the 24-time Grand Slam winner withdrawing from next week’s Montreal Masters.

The world No. 2 forewarned the decision after his Monday Paris Olympic defeat of fellow veteran Rafael Nadal in the second round.

The 37-year-old Serb said he will pay close attention to his reduced schedule, concentrating on the biggest of events as he extends his career.

Both he and Nadal, 38, are reaching the end of their record-setting careers, with the Spaniard apparently closer to the finishing line than his rival.

“It depends on whether both of us will keep going, and whether we participate in the same tournaments or not. I think we both want to play in Grand Slams and the biggest tournaments. 

I will speak on my behalf. I will be very selective with the tournaments I play. 

“I just hope for the sake of our rivalry and the sport in general we get to face each other once or at different times on different surfaces in different parts of the world, because it can only benefit the sport.”

The Montreal field will be headed by defending champion in Canada Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1 who is missing the Olympics due to tonsillitis.