What is a walkover in tennis?

In tennis, a walkover (often abbreviated as "WO") is a victory awarded to a player or team without them having to play a match. This happens for several reasons:

• Opponent's Withdrawal: The most common reason. A player may withdraw due to injury, illness, personal reasons, or simply not showing up for the match.

• Default: A player may be defaulted from a match for violating the rules. This could be for things like unsportsmanlike conduct, receiving coaching illegally, or intentionally damaging the court.

• Retirement: During a match, a player may retire due to injury or illness, resulting in a walkover for their opponent. Note that this is different from a withdrawal before the match starts.

• Late Arrival: In some cases, a player's excessively late arrival to the match can result in a walkover for their opponent.

Consequences of a Walkover:

• The player receiving the walkover is credited with a win, and their opponent receives a loss.
• The walkover winner does not receive ranking points equivalent to winning a full match, though they may receive some (this varies by tournament).
• The walkover winner generally does not earn the prize money associated with reaching that round. They will generally receive a percentage in lieu of full earnings (this varies by tournament).

Essentially, a walkover is a way to resolve a match without requiring play if one of the players is unable or unwilling to compete. It's a procedural matter rather than a contest of skill.