India, July 9 – With the Wimbledon season underway, everyone is watching what is likely the most renowned tennis tournament. The frenzy is so intense that even those who aren't tennis enthusiasts flock to the All England Lawn Tennis Club, where the best players in the sport compete. However, the terminology and regulations that govern this sport might be confusing to newer tennis fans, even though the game is becoming more and more popular. 'Walkover' is one such term.

According to Sporting News, a walkover occurs when a player withdraws from a game prior to its start because of an injury, illness, or expulsion from the competition. Two scenarios in which a walkover may be permitted are listed in the 2025 ATP Official Rulebook: either if the losing player is sick or wounded before the start of the game, or if they are penalized under the code of conduct before the game and cannot be allowed to play by the ATP or tournament supervisor.

In this instance, the opponent advances directly to the following round and is eligible for any financial reward associated with that position. In such a case, the match was never played in the first place, so it is often impossible to determine who won or lost. Typically, a player who was knocked out in the qualifying rounds is brought up to fill the vacancy left by a player who has requested a withdrawal.

On the other hand, a player retires when he or she is unable to continue playing the game. In this case, the game has already begun, but it has been interrupted in the middle of the match because a player is unable to continue due to illness or injury.

Following a game, a withdrawal takes place. According to Caanberry, this occurs when a player withdraws completely from an upcoming game, which is often revealed before a draw is decided.

Additionally, default occurs when a game has begun, indicating the disqualification of a player for unsportsmanlike behavior or misconduct. The timing of a default announcement is often the decisive factor in determining the results in this situation.

Stuti Gupta

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Read Also: Walkover in Tennis: What It Means at Wimbledon
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