What’s a Walkover in Tennis?

Walkovers are pretty rare in tennis. They occur when one player is unable to take their turn and the other is awarded the point. In singles, this usually happens when one player is injured or sick and has to retire from the match. In doubles, it can happen if one player is missing or is unable to take their turn.

Definition of a walkover

A walkover, also WO or w/o is a sporting event in which the result is decided before the match has begun. It is usually the result of one competitor defaulting or withdrawing from the contest.

In tennis, a walkover occurs if a player’s opponent is unable to start the match for any reason, such as injury or illness. If a player is unable to continue after starting the match, it is classified as a retirement. Before 1914, men’s tennis used challenge rounds; as of 2018[update], all Grand Slam tournaments have used knockout competitions for both men and women since 1920. Women’s tennis did not have challenge rounds at Wimbledon until 1971 and at the US Open until 1973.

The term “walkover” can also be used in other sports to mean an easy victory. It is often used in relation to politics, when one party wins an election without serious opposition from another party.

Reasons for a walkover

In tennis, a walkover (WO) is the award of a victory to a player or team because the opponent(s) have forfeited the match or have been defaulted. There can be a few reasons for this. Maybe the opponent was injured and couldn’t continue, maybe they had to leave for an emergency, or maybe they just didn’t show up. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why a walkover may be awarded in tennis.

Player injury

There are a number of reasons why a tennis match may end in a walkover, but the most common is that one of the players is injured and cannot continue. If a player is injured before the match begins, it is usually due to an accident or illness that occurred during practice or warm-ups. If the injury occurs during the match, it is usually due to strain on the muscles, ligaments, or tendons from playing too hard.

In some cases, a player may retire from the match due to heat exhaustion or cramping. This can happen if the players are not used to playing in hot weather conditions and their bodies are not able to handle it.

If a player violates any of the tennis rules, they may be disqualified from the match. This can happen if they receive multiple warnings for illegal serves, foot faults, or hitting the ball outside of the court boundaries.

Finally, if there is any type of interference from spectators or other non-players, the match may be stopped and awarded to one of the players as a walkover.

Player retirement

One common reason for a walkover is player retirement, which can occur for a number of reasons. A player may be injured and unable to continue, or simply not feeling well. If a player knows before the match starts that they will not be able to complete it, they may choose to retire rather than risk further injury.

In some cases, a player may retire during the match itself if they are not playing well or if their opponent takes an early lead. This can sometimes be seen as disrespectful, so it is generally avoided if at all possible. If a player does retire during a match, the score at the time of retirement is usually used to determine the winner.

There are also times when a player may need to retire due to an emergency, such as a family member becoming ill or passing away. In these cases, the player is usually given the option to reschedule the match if possible.

Player disqualification

In tennis, a walkover (W/O or w/o) occurs when a player is awarded a victory due to an opponent’s retirement or withdrawal from the contest before completion of all scheduled sets (i.e. before the match has culminated in a final score).

A walkover is typically awarded:

– When the withdrawal occurs after the match has begun and before the completed sets number required for a win has been determined (e.g., 6–3, 2–6, 2–0 W/O), or
– When the withdrawal occurs before the match has even started (walkover by default).

The most common reasons for a walkover are player injury or player disqualification; however, there are other reasons as well, such as player illness, player unavailability (e.g., prior commitment), player withdrawal due to not being able to find child care, etc.

While rare in professional tennis tournaments, walkovers are not uncommon at lower levels where players may be more likely to retire during a match due to injury or other factors.

No-show

There are several reasons that a player may be given a walkover win in a tennis match. The most common reason is that the opponent is unable to play due to injury or some other reason, such as illness. If a player is unable to continue a match while it is in progress, it is also referred to as a retirement. If a player does not show up for their match, it is referred to as a no-show. Walkovers can also be awarded if an opponent is disqualified for breaking tournament rules, such as by being late for their match or failing a drug test.

How to avoid a walkover

A walkover, also called a “W.O.”, is the awarding of a match to a player who has been scheduled to play against a defaulting player. The defaulting player is unable to start the match for any reason. To avoid a walkover, you must notify the tournament official of your withdrawal before your match is scheduled to begin.

Withdrawal deadline

In order to avoid a walkover, players must notify the tournament director of their withdrawal before the withdrawal deadline. The withdrawal deadline is usually 10 minutes before the player’s scheduled match time. If a player withdraws after the deadline, they will be subject to a walkover.

Medical certificate

Players must submit a medical certificate to the Tournament Referee before each tournament they wish to enter. The certificate must be dated within the past 12 months and be signed by a licensed physician, certified physician assistant or certified nurse practitioner. The certificate must state that, in the opinion of the signing health care professional, the player is physically fit to compete in a tennis tournament.