You may hear the term walk over whether you are a beginner, an advanced player, or a gentleman using an intermediate tennis racquet. In tennis, a walkover occurs when a player fails to appear for a game. That player automatically loses the match. In tennis, a walkover can be given if a player is injured or ill. In this case, the player simply cannot play the match. In some cases, a walkover is given if a player doesn’t show up for the match and no reason is given.

 What are the Criteria for a Walkover in Tennis?

The rules of tennis are actually pretty simple. You need to win 6 games or win 2 sets to win a match. But there are some other quirky rules. One of the more complex ones is the criteria for a walkover.

When does a Walkover Occur?

In a sport, a walkover occurs when a competitor wins a match without the need for it to finish. One of the most common ways a walkover can occur is if a competitor has been disqualified from a match. In that case, the person who loses out from this is the person who was going to play that qualified person. 

In most cases, a player has to take a walkover if they suffer an injury during warm-ups, or feel sick during their time between matches, or aggravate the pre-existing injury so that they cannot recover in time for their next game.

What is the HISTORY behind Walkover?

The walkover in tennis is something that is rarely seen any more in professional tennis. The last two walkovers to happen in professional tennis was at the 2014 Miami Open where it happened twice in the singles draw. The last time it happened in the women’s draw at a WTA tournament was at the 1998 Bank of the West Classic.

The Difference Between a Walkover and a Default?

Normally, a walkover is initiated by you while a default is initiated by someone else. Whenever a player withdraws from a match because of an injury, illness, or personal circumstances, they initiate a walkover. According to the rules, “any refusal to participate is treated as a default.” A default happens whenever an official determines the player is not capable of participating. Keep playing despite violation. According to the rules, this type of default includes players who fail to show up, those who are late, and those who receive injections, infusions, or supplemental oxygen.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic, a 20-time Grand Slam winner, for example, was disqualified from last year’s US Open because he struck the line judge with a ball. The USTA announced at the time that Djokovic would lose all ranking points and fines earned from the US Open, as well as any punishments incurred from the incident itself due to the incident with Pablo Carreo Busta.

Final words

The information about the walkover in tennis has been provided in detail, and hopefully, you will find it interesting. We encourage you to read the tennis guides and reviews by the Tennis Unit before you visit the courts next time.