A walkover can change a player’s ranking points even though no ball is struck. In most cases, the player who advances receives the points for the round they reach, while the player who withdraws does not earn the winner’s points for moving on.
The exact total depends on the tournament and the player’s results before the walkover. Here’s how tennis ranking points after a walkover generally work, including what changes if a player retires after a match has started.
How ranking points work after a walkover
A walkover happens when a scheduled match does not take place because one player cannot compete, often because of injury or illness. The opponent advances to the next round. Since ranking points are mainly tied to how far a player progresses in a tournament, that advancement can increase their points for the event.
For example, if a player receives a walkover in the round of 16, they move into the quarterfinals. They earn the points for reaching the quarterfinal stage, even if they later lose their quarterfinal match. There is no separate “walkover bonus”; the points come from progressing to a later round.
The player who gives the walkover does not get the advancing player’s points. They generally keep the points associated with the stage they reached, but the treatment of a walkover before a player’s first match can depend on the event’s rules. Check the tournament or tour regulations if the precise total matters.
Who gets points? A simple example
Imagine two players are due to meet in a tournament’s round of 16. One withdraws before the match, so the other advances to the quarterfinals. If the advancing player then loses in the quarterfinals, their points are usually the same as those of another quarterfinalist who loses a played match.
| Situation | Typical ranking-points result |
|---|---|
| A player receives a walkover and advances | They earn points for the later round they reach. |
| A player gives a walkover after earlier rounds | They keep the points associated with their tournament progress; they do not receive points for the opponent’s later rounds. |
| A player withdraws before playing their first match | Points may depend on the event’s rules and the circumstances of the withdrawal. |
| A player retires after the match has begun | This is a retirement, not a walkover. Points are generally based on the round reached. |
The table describes the usual principle, not a universal point total. A quarterfinal at a Grand Slam, a WTA 250, an ATP Masters 1000 and a Challenger event each has a different points schedule.
Does a walkover count as a win?
For tournament progress, yes: the player receiving the walkover advances as if they had won the scheduled match. But no tennis was played, so a walkover is not the same as a normal match win in every respect. It is commonly shown as “W/O” in the draw, and it may be treated differently from a played match in match statistics or head-to-head records.
That distinction matters when comparing a player’s record with their ranking. A walkover can help a player reach a round that carries more ranking points, even though it does not add a played win to their match record in the usual sense.
Walkover versus retirement
A walkover occurs before the first serve of a match. If play has started and a player then stops because of injury or another reason, the result is a retirement. A default is different again: it usually means a player is removed from a match or tournament for a rules violation.
For ranking purposes, the important point is often the round a player reaches, rather than whether the opponent withdrew before play or retired during it. Still, these labels are not interchangeable, and tournament records will list the result according to what happened on court.
Why a walkover may barely change a player’s ranking
Ranking points are only one part of the picture. ATP and WTA rankings use rolling results, so points from older tournaments eventually drop off. A new result may replace an existing result in a player’s ranking total, or have less impact than fans expect if the player already has stronger results counting.
That is why a walkover does not automatically mean a dramatic jump in the rankings. The player may gain points by advancing, but their position also depends on other players’ results, the points they are defending from the same period a year earlier, and which results count toward their total.
Event level matters too. Advancing a round at one tournament may be worth far more than advancing the same number of rounds at another. To work out the effect, look up that event’s points table, identify the round the player reached, and compare it with the points that are about to expire or be replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the player who gets a walkover earn ranking points?
Usually, yes. They advance and receive the points for the round they reach under that tournament’s points schedule. The walkover itself does not carry a special bonus.
Does the player who withdraws lose ranking points?
A walkover is not normally a separate ranking penalty. The player generally keeps points tied to the progress they made, but a withdrawal before their first match may be treated differently under the event’s rules.
Is a walkover counted as a match win?
It counts as an advancement in the tournament draw, but no match was played. It may therefore appear differently from a regular win in match records and head-to-head statistics.
Do ATP and WTA tournaments award the same points for a walkover?
The basic idea is similar: points depend on the round reached. The number of points varies by tour and tournament level, so check the relevant event’s ranking-points table for the exact total.
Final Thoughts
After a walkover, the player who advances usually earns points for the later round they reach, while the player who withdraws does not collect points for that advancement. The event’s point schedule—and whether the withdrawing player had already competed—can affect the exact outcome. For a clear answer, check the official draw and points table rather than treating every walkover as a standard match result.
