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Tennis Walkover Meaning: What It Is and How It Affects Betting
A professional tennis tournament director fears nothing more than the withdrawal of a prominent player. Unfortunately, it is a part of doing business.
A player who retires during the match differs significantly from a tennis walkover. That happens when a player doesn’t take the court for a scheduled match. If that happens at the beginning of the tournament, a lucky loser can be added from the qualifying bracket. However, when it occurs in the middle of an event, the opponent advances on without hitting a tennis ball.
Let’s examine the tennis walkover meaning. It is always a good idea to check the tennis betting rules before placing a bet.
Breaking Down Tennis Walkovers
What Happens In A Tennis Walkover
If a player pulls out of a match before it starts, bets on that match will be voided since it was a walkover in tennis. It is different if a player retires during a match. Some who bet online might make the effort to get the bet voided. Good luck with that.
There will be players who could be high-risk options coming into the tournament, which could impact the tennis betting odds. That can wreak havoc on the tennis futures odds. If one of the pre-tournament favorites plays a match or two before pulling out of the tournament, those who bet on that star to win the tournament are out of luck.
Why Are There Walkovers?
Not every tournament is the same. The events held a week or two before or after a Grand Slam event have the highest risk of player withdrawals.
For those wondering what is a walkover in tennis and why it happens, there are times when a player will pull out of the tournament after making a deep run in the previous week or two, citing rest. Someone who is nursing a minor injury the week before the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, or the US Open may reluctantly back out of his or her commitment.
That can be frustrating for tournament directors, especially if the star is a huge one. They need to bite their lip because they don’t want to risk offending one of the ATP or WTA tour’s big hitters.
Tennis Betting Options
When it comes to tennis betting predictions, there are several options to consider when looking at the status of bets when a player pulls out of a match.
First-ball bets mean that once the first point of a match is played, all bets count, even if there is a withdrawal early in the match.
There are betting options for completing at least one or two sets before a bet is active.
In some cases, a full match must be completed for a moneyline wager to be paid out. If a withdrawal occurs late in the match, the bet will be voided.
Sometimes, a total games bet will be honored even if there is a retirement. That is not the case with a tennis walkover.
If a match has a game total of 20.5 and a player retires with a score of 7-5, 4-6, most sportsbooks consider those who took the total to go over as a winning bet.
More Tennis Walkover FAQ’s
Is a walkover in tennis a win?
A walkover will not count as a win or a loss for either player since the match was never held.
What is the difference between a walkover and a withdrawal in tennis?
A walkover occurs when a player withdraws from a match before the first point is played, while a withdrawal takes place during a match.
What happens in a walkover?
The winner in a walkover advances to the next round without playing a point. In rare occurrences, such as in the title match, the winner is crowned the tournament champion.
Is a walkover the same as a forfeit?
Not necessarily. A forfeit happens when a player’s actions result in the end of a match. Novak Djokovic was defaulted out of the 2020 US Open when he hit a ball in frustration, which hit a female line judge in the throat. That is different from a walkover, which is caused by injury or illness.
