What Does Walkover Mean in Tennis? Results and Withdrawals

Tennis has many funny words. Love means zero. A bagel means 6–0. And a walkover sounds like someone strolled across the court with snacks. But it is a real tennis result. It matters for players, fans, draws, rankings, and tournament records.

What Does Walkover Mean in Tennis?

A walkover happens when a scheduled tennis match does not take place. One player is ready to play. The other player cannot play. So the ready player moves on to the next round.

That is the basic idea. Simple, right?

Imagine this. Two players are meant to meet at 2 p.m. The crowd is seated. The ball kids are ready. The umpire has a serious face. But then one player pulls out before the match begins. Maybe they woke up with a bad back. Maybe they have a fever. Maybe their ankle looks like a grapefruit. The match is canceled. The other player gets the win.

That is a walkover.

In results, you may see it written as:

• W/O
• Walkover
• Player A def. Player B, walkover
• Player A advances by walkover

There is no normal score. No 6–2. No 7–6. No dramatic tie break. Just the result.

Why Is It Called a Walkover?

The word walkover is not only a tennis word. It has been used in sports for a long time. It means winning without having to compete.

The idea is this. The winner could almost walk over the line, because no one is there to stop them. It sounds easy. But in real tennis, it is not always a happy moment.

Players want to win matches. They also want to test themselves. Fans want to watch tennis. TV people want drama. Nobody buys popcorn hoping to watch a scoreboard update.

Still, walkovers are part of the sport. Tennis is tough. Bodies break down. Travel is hard. The calendar is crowded. Sometimes a player just cannot go.

Common Reasons for a Walkover

A walkover can happen for many reasons. Most are normal and understandable. Some are sudden. Some are known hours before the match.

Here are the most common reasons:

• Injury: A player hurts a knee, wrist, back, shoulder, ankle, or another body part.
• Illness: A player has the flu, food poisoning, fever, or another sickness.
• Fatigue: A player is too exhausted to compete safely.
• Personal reasons: A player may have a family matter or private emergency.
• Scheduling problems: Rarely, travel delays or timing issues can cause a player to withdraw.
• Medical advice: A doctor may tell the player not to continue in the tournament.

In professional tennis, players do not usually take walkovers lightly. Pulling out can cost them prize money, ranking points, and momentum. It can also disappoint fans. So if a player gives a walkover, there is usually a real reason.

Walkover vs Withdrawal

These two words are connected. But they are not exactly the same.

A withdrawal means a player pulls out of an event or match. A walkover is the result given to the opponent when the match was scheduled but does not happen.

Think of it like this:

• The player who cannot play withdraws.
• The opponent receives a walkover.

For example, let us say Player B has a shoulder injury before the quarterfinal. Player B withdraws. Player A wins by walkover. Player A moves to the semifinal.

So the same situation can use both words. One word describes the action. The other word describes the result.

Walkover vs Retirement

This is where fans often get confused. A walkover is not the same as a retirement.

A retirement happens after the match has started. The players have already played at least one point. Then one player cannot continue.

A walkover happens before the match starts. No points are played.

Here is a simple chart:

Example of a retirement:

Player A leads 6–4, 2–1. Player B hurts their leg and stops. Player A wins by retirement.

Example of a walkover:

Player B hurts their leg in warmup or before arriving. The match never starts. Player A wins by walkover.

See the difference? The key is the first point. If a point was played, it is not a walkover.

Walkover vs Default

A default is different too. A default usually happens because a player breaks the rules. It can happen because of bad behavior, dangerous actions, or serious code violations.

For example, a player may be defaulted for:

• Hitting a ball in anger and injuring someone.
• Repeated unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Refusing to continue without a valid reason.
• Arriving too late, depending on tournament rules.

A walkover is usually not a punishment. A default often is.

So remember:

• Walkover: Cannot play before the match starts.
• Retirement: Starts the match, then stops.
• Default: Rule problem or conduct issue.

Does a Walkover Count as a Win?

Yes, in tournament terms, it counts as a win for moving through the draw. The player advances to the next round.

But it can be handled differently in statistics. Some records count walkovers in draw progress. Some head to head records may not count them as played matches. That is because no tennis was actually played.

So if two players were meant to face each other, and one wins by walkover, many official head to head lists will not treat it like a normal match win. There was no serve. No rally. No handshake at the net after match point.

But for the tournament bracket, the result is clear. One player is out. One player moves on.

Does a Walkover Have a Score?

No. A walkover does not have a score. You will not see 6–0, 6–0. That would mean the match was played.

Instead, you may see something like:

• Smith def. Jones, W/O
• Garcia advances, walkover
• Lee vs Patel: Walkover

Sometimes scoreboards show a blank score. Sometimes they show only W/O. It depends on the website or tournament system.

What Happens to the Player Who Wins by Walkover?

The player who receives the walkover gets a free pass to the next round. Nice, right? Well, yes and no.

There are good parts:

• They save energy.
• They avoid injury risk.
• They get extra rest.
• They move closer to the title.

But there are also tricky parts:

• They may lose rhythm.
• They may have too many days without match play.
• They may face a sharp opponent next.
• They may feel awkward about advancing without playing.

Tennis players like routine. They like hitting balls. They like getting used to the court. A surprise day off can be useful. It can also feel strange.

It is like showing up ready for a big exam and being told, “Never mind. You passed.” Great news. But also a little weird.

What Happens to the Player Who Gives the Walkover?

The player who withdraws is removed from that singles or doubles draw. Their tournament run ends.

They may still need to talk to tournament officials. In professional events, they may need medical checks. If the reason is injury or illness, the tour may ask for details.

This is not because officials are nosy. It is to protect the tournament rules. It also helps stop fake withdrawals. Tennis has prize money and ranking points. The rules need to be fair.

A player who gives a walkover may still play another event later, if allowed. For example, a player might withdraw from singles but still be entered in doubles. Whether they can play doubles depends on the rules and the medical situation.

Can a Walkover Happen in Doubles?

Yes. Walkovers happen in doubles too.

If one doubles team cannot play, the other team advances. The reason might be injury to one player. Or illness. Or a scheduling issue. In mixed doubles, regular doubles, or junior doubles, the idea is the same.

Doubles can be extra complicated. One healthy player may be ready. But their partner may not be able to play. Since doubles is a team event, the team cannot continue unless both players are available.

So the other team wins by walkover.

What Is a Bye, and Is It the Same?

A bye is not the same as a walkover.

A bye means a player does not have an opponent in that round. This usually happens because of the draw size. Top seeded players often receive byes in the first round.

A walkover means there was an opponent. The match was planned. Then the opponent could not play.

Here is the quick version:

• Bye: No opponent was scheduled.
• Walkover: Opponent was scheduled, but withdrew before the match.

A bye is like getting a seat on the bus before it leaves. A walkover is like your opponent missing the bus after buying a ticket.

How Do Walkovers Affect Ranking Points?

This depends on the tournament and tour rules. In many professional events, the player who advances by walkover keeps moving through the draw. That means they can earn the points for reaching the next round.

But there can be special rules. Some tours have rules about points, prize money, and withdrawals. These rules can change. They can also differ between ATP, WTA, ITF, Grand Slam events, and smaller tournaments.

For fans, the simple idea is enough:

• The winning player advances.
• The withdrawing player exits that match.
• Ranking and prize details depend on the event rules.

If you are checking official stats, always look at the tournament notes. They usually explain it.

Do Fans Get Refunds After a Walkover?

This depends on the ticket and tournament policy. If one match is canceled, but other matches are still played, fans may not get a refund. If the whole session is badly affected, there may be a policy for exchanges or refunds.

At big tournaments, one walkover might be annoying but not ruin the day. There may be more matches on nearby courts. At smaller events, one walkover can feel bigger because there are fewer matches.

Fans may be sad. But most understand. Nobody wants to watch an injured player limp around like a baby giraffe on ice.

Can a Player Fake a Walkover?

In theory, someone could try. In practice, professional tennis has rules to prevent abuse.

Players may need medical proof. Officials may ask questions. There can be penalties for improper withdrawals. The tours want honest competition.

Also, players usually do not enjoy withdrawing. They train for years. They travel across the world. They want to compete. Giving a walkover can hurt their ranking, confidence, and income.

So most walkovers are not sneaky tricks. They are usually just the body saying, “Nope. Not today.”

Famous Walkovers in Tennis

Walkovers happen at every level. They happen in local club events. They happen in junior tournaments. They happen at the Grand Slams. Even the biggest stars have given or received walkovers.

This is because no player is made of steel. Not even the champions. Tennis asks a lot from the body. Players sprint, slide, twist, serve, and repeat. Then they do it again the next day. And the next week. And the next tournament.

So when you see a walkover, do not think it is strange. It is part of the sport. Not the most exciting part. But still important.

How to Read a Tennis Draw With a Walkover

A tennis draw is like a tournament map. It shows who plays whom. When a walkover happens, the withdrawing player is usually marked with W/O. The opponent’s name moves forward.

For example:

• Round 2: Adams vs Brown
• Result: Adams def. Brown, W/O
• Next: Adams plays Chen in Round 3

That means Brown did not play the match. Adams advanced. Easy.

If there is a score before the match ends, then it is not a walkover. It may be a retirement. Always check for words like RET, DEF, or W/O.

Quick Examples

Here are some simple tennis situations. Try to spot the walkover.

• Example 1: A player has food poisoning before the match and pulls out. That is a walkover.
• Example 2: A player leads 5–2, then twists an ankle and stops. That is a retirement.
• Example 3: A player is disqualified for angry behavior. That is a default.
• Example 4: A top seed skips the first round because the draw gives them no opponent. That is a bye.

Once you know these four words, tennis results become much easier to read.

Final Thoughts

A walkover in tennis is a win without a match being played. It happens when one player withdraws before the first point. The opponent advances. The result is marked as W/O.

It is simple, but it can affect many things. It can change a draw. It can rest one player. It can end another player’s tournament. It can disappoint fans. It can also protect an injured or sick athlete from making things worse.

So the next time you see W/O on a tennis scoreboard, you will know what happened. No mystery. No secret tennis spell. Just a walkover.

And yes, it is still one of the few times in tennis when someone can win without hitting a single ball. Tennis is weird. That is part of the fun.