The lesser known rule: Walkover in Tennis

Walkover in tennis is one of the lesser-known rules in the game.

A walkover in tennis is a situation where players are unwilling to play the game due to illness, damage, or personal injury. It may also occur when there is an administrative error for some reason.

The walkover policy was developed to aid the players in order to stick to the game’s scheduled matches. It provided a remedy if a game were to get postponed at a short notice. This would guarantee the operations of the tennis league to be carried forward without much hindrance.

A walkover is given in two circumstances only:

1. If a match has been firmly set up but is cancelled within 24 hours notice.
2. If a player is more than 30 minutes late

What is the difference between “Retiring a Match” and “Walkover”?

According to Friend at Court, a book of regulations from the United States Tennis Association (USTA), a retirement occurs when a player cannot continue a match due to illness or injury. The other reason for occurrence of retirement in tennis is due to “personal circumstance or adult discipline.”

While walkover can also take place due to a player’s injury, it is mentioned before a match is slated to begin and not during the course of a match.

Example of “Retiring a Match” – On June 29, 2021, in the Wimbledon, Serena Williams retired mid-match in her first-round encounter versus Aliaksandra Sasnovic of Belarus. Sasnovic advanced due to Serena’s retirement and not via walkover.

Example of “Walkover” – For instance, last fall, Serena Williams withdrew from 2020 edition of the French Open. This was due to a left Achilles injury that she sustained at the US Open weeks prior. She was scheduled to face Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round of the competition. This would enable the Bulgarian Pironkova, to advance to the next round via walkover.

A walkover does not count towards a player’s win/loss record, but retirements do.

A few walkovers that have taken place over the years

• Roger Federer forfeited his Round of 16 matches against Matteo Berrettini at Roland Garros in 2021.
• Rafael Nadal got a walkover win in the quarter-finals of the Melbourne Summer Set. Tallon Griekspoor had to pull out from the match owing to a foot injury.
• Novak Djokovic won in the finals of the ATP World Tour in 2014 after Roger Federer pulled out of the tournament citing a back injury.
• Roger Federer also gave a walkover when he pulled out of the Paris Masters in 2008. He was scheduled to face James Blake.
• Serena Williams had to give a walkover to Maria Sharapova ahead of their French Open Round of 16 encounters in 2018.
• Rafael Nadal gave a walkover to Roger Federer in the Indian Wells semi-final in 2019.

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