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The decision by Swiss world number three Federer and Spanish
world number four Nadal comes a day after Wimbledon winner Andy
Murray, ranked second, said he would not defend his Rogers Cup
title so he can rest before defending his Olympic singles crown
in Rio.
Federer, a 17-times grand slam champion who won the Canadian
stop in 2004 and 2006, said he needed more time off after his
bid for a record-extending 18th grand slam title ended in the
Wimbledon semi-finals earlier this month.
"Looking ahead, it is best for me that I take more time after
Wimbledon," the 34-year-old Federer, who will seek his third
Olympic medal at next month's Rio Games, said in a statement. "I
look forward to coming back to Canada next year."
Nadal, who has been out of action since pulling out of the
French Open following his second-round match with a wrist
injury, said he was not fit enough to return to competition.
The 30-year-old Spaniard, a three-times winner of the Rogers Cup
tournament that alternates each year between Toronto and
Montreal, was only recently given clearance to compete in Rio
despite not fulfilling the qualification criteria.
"I only started practicing a week ago after my wrist injury and
I am not ready to play such an important event," said Nadal.
The Rogers Cup, where world number one Novak Djokovic is top
seed, will run from July 23-31 and the tennis competition at the
Rio Olympics will be held Aug. 6-14.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue; Editing by Larry Fine)
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