You've settled into your seat, or maybe you've just cracked open a cold drink to watch the quarterfinals of a Major. The screen flashes a name, followed by "WO." That's it. No tennis. No match. You're left staring at a highlights reel from 1994. Honestly, it’s one of the most frustrating things that can happen in professional sports.
But what is a walkover in tennis exactly?
Basically, a walkover (W/O) occurs when a player advances to the next round of a tournament because their opponent withdraws before the match even begins. It’s the "silent" win. No balls are hit. No sweat is shed. One person moves on, the other goes home, and the record books reflect a result that never actually happened on court.
It sounds simple. But when you start looking at the ATP and WTA rulebooks, or how this affects betting and rankings, it gets kinda messy.
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Why Do Walkovers Actually Happen?
Pro tennis is a grind. It’s a brutal, year-round schedule that destroys joints and drains mental reserves. Most walkovers aren't a mystery; they are the result of the body finally saying "no."
Acute injuries are the most common culprit. Think about a player who wins a grueling three-hour match in the heat of Melbourne, only to wake up the next morning with a swollen knee or a back that won't straighten out. If they realize during their warmup that they can't compete at a professional level, they notify the tournament referee.
Illness is another big one.
In the high-stakes environment of the tour, a stomach bug or a high fever makes it impossible to track a 120 mph serve. Rather than stepping out and retiring mid-match (which is a different thing entirely), the player pulls out early. This is often seen as a courtesy to the fans and the tournament, though it rarely feels that way to someone who bought a ticket for the night session.
Then there are the personal reasons. Family emergencies happen. Sometimes, it’s a logistical nightmare—though rare at the pro level—where a player simply can’t make it to the venue on time due to travel disasters.
The Walkover vs. Retirement: The Crucial Difference
People mix these up all the time.
A walkover happens before the first point is played. It's a "pre-match" withdrawal. Because the match never started, it doesn't count toward certain head-to-head statistics in the same way a full win does, and it definitely doesn't help with "time on court" metrics.
A retirement, on the other hand, happens during the match. If the chair empire calls "Play" and then, two games later, a player's ankle gives out, that’s a retirement (RET).
Why does this matter?
- For the Players: A retirement counts as a match played. A walkover does not.
- For the Fans: If you're at the stadium, a retirement at least gives you twenty minutes of tennis. A walkover gives you a blank screen.
- For the Record: In a walkover, the advancing player gets the ranking points and the prize money for reaching the next round, but the match is not recorded as a "win" in their official win-loss record for the season. It’s just... a progression.
That Famous Federer Moment (And Other Real Examples)
Roger Federer is the gold standard for "not retiring." Throughout his massive career, he famously never retired during a match. He played over 1,500 matches and finished every single one of them.
However, Federer did give walkovers.
The most high-profile instance was the 2014 ATP Finals in London. Federer was scheduled to play Novak Djokovic in the final. It was the match everyone wanted. But Roger had spent nearly three hours battling Stan Wawrinka in the semis the night before, saving match points and wrecking his back in the process.
He walked out onto the court, not in his gear, but in a tracksuit and a scarf. He spoke to the crowd, apologized, and explained he simply couldn't compete. Djokovic won the title via walkover.
It was awkward. It was sad. But it was the "right" way to do it under the rules. If he had played one point and then quit, it would have been a retirement. By pulling out before, he allowed the tournament to arrange an exhibition match (Andy Murray stepped in to play Djokovic for the fans) so the ticket holders didn't go home entirely empty-handed.
Another wild one? The 2022 Wimbledon semifinal. Rafael Nadal had an abdominal tear. He’d beaten Taylor Fritz in a heroic quarterfinal, but the next day, he realized he couldn't serve. He gave Nick Kyrgios a walkover into the final.
Kyrgios became the first man in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam final via walkover. Talk about a weird path to history.
What Happens to Your Money?
If you're a bettor, the word "walkover" usually means your bet is void.
Most sportsbooks have a "one-ball" or "one-set" rule. If the match never starts, the bet is canceled, and you get your stake back. It’s like the match never existed. This is why some bettors get annoyed when a player retires in the third set; depending on the bookie, that might count as a loss, whereas a walkover would have saved their money.
For the players, the financial side is a bit more nuanced.
In the past, players would often limp onto the court, play one game, and then retire just to collect the first-round prize money. The ATP and Grand Slams hated this because it ruined the experience for fans. Now, many tournaments have "Lucky Loser" rules. If a player withdraws via walkover before their first-round match, they might still get a portion of the prize money, while their spot is taken by a player who lost in the qualifying rounds. This encourages players to be honest about their injuries before the match starts.
Ranking Points and The "Free" Pass
Does the winner of a walkover get ranking points?
Yes.
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If you're in the second round and your opponent gives you a walkover, you effectively "earn" the points for reaching the third round. It's a massive stroke of luck. In a sport where a few points can be the difference between being seeded at a Slam or having to play qualifiers, a walkover can literally change the trajectory of a player’s season.
But there’s a catch for the "winner." They lose their rhythm.
Tennis is a game of momentum. Having three days off in the middle of a tournament because of a walkover sounds great for the legs, but it’s terrible for the "feel" of the ball. Many players actually dislike getting walkovers in the middle of a week because they feel "cold" going into the next round against someone who just came off a high-intensity victory.
The Strategy of the Withdrawal
Sometimes, a walkover is strategic. Sorta.
If a player is deep in a smaller tournament but has a Grand Slam starting in two days, they might look at a minor tweak in their hamstring and decide it’s not worth the risk. They "give" the walkover to save themselves for the bigger stage.
It’s a business decision.
Is it fair? Not really to the tournament organizers. But players are independent contractors. They have to manage their "equipment"—which is their own body.
Key Factors in a Walkover Decision:
- Severity of Injury: Can it be managed with tape and ibuprofen, or will playing make it a six-month recovery?
- Upcoming Schedule: Is there a bigger tournament next week?
- The Opponent: If you're 100% healthy, you might beat them. If you're 60%, will you just get embarrassed?
- Fan Impact: High-profile players feel a lot of pressure to show up, which is why walkovers from the "Big Three" were always massive news.
How This Impacts the Sport's Integrity
The "Lucky Loser" system I mentioned earlier is the sport’s best defense against "fake" walkovers or players "taking the money and running."
In 2026, the data shows that the number of early-round retirements has dropped significantly since the introduction of the rule that allows injured players to claim 50% of their prize money if they withdraw before the match. The "Lucky Loser" who replaces them gets the other 50% plus whatever they earn by moving forward.
It’s a rare win-win in the world of sports regulation.
What Should You Do When a Walkover Hits Your Bracket?
If you're a fan or a fantasy player, a walkover is just bad luck. There’s no way to predict them, and there’s no way to "fix" the hole it leaves in your afternoon.
But if you’re looking to understand the game at a deeper level, pay attention to when they happen. A walkover in a semifinal usually means the final is going to be lopsided because the person who advanced didn't get a chance to sharpen their game, or their opponent is going to be incredibly fresh.
Next Steps for Tennis Enthusiasts:
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If you see a "WO" on the scoreboard, don't just close the app. Check the player's social media or the tournament's official bulletin. Understanding whether it was a "wrist tweak" or "respiratory illness" tells you a lot about how that player will perform in the next tournament.
If you’re betting, always double-check your sportsbook’s specific policy on "pre-match withdrawals" versus "mid-match retirements." Every site is slightly different, and knowing the house rules can save you a lot of headache when a match evaporates before the first serve.
Lastly, keep an eye on the "Lucky Loser" entries. Some of the best stories in tennis—like Andre Agassi's legendary runs or more recent Cinderella stories—started because someone else gave a walkover and opened a door that was supposed to be shut.
Tennis is as much about survival as it is about skill. Sometimes, the best ability is simply availability.