Novak Djokovic just advanced to the semi-finals at Wimbledon on a walkover.
He’ll next play on Friday for a chance to make the Finals this weekend.
The match result is a rarity in tennis.
What is a walkover in tennis?
A walkover is a when player automatically advances to the next round without playing. This could happen due to the opponent being sick or injured or because of code of conduct penalty.
In this case, Alex De Minaur pulled out of today’s quarterfinal against Djokovic due to a hip injury.
The second-seeded Djokovic has won seven of his 24 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon and will face either Taylor Fritz or Lorenzo Musetti on Friday for a chance in the final.
A walkover is different than a retirement.
In tennis, “walkover” and “retirement” are terms used to describe different situations when a match does not proceed as planned:
Walkover: This occurs when a player is unable to start a scheduled match, typically due to injury, illness, or personal reasons. As a result, their opponent automatically wins the match without having to play. Walkovers are usually declared before the match begins.
Retirement: This happens when a player starts a match but cannot continue due to injury, illness, or other reasons. The player withdraws from the match, and their opponent is declared the winner. Retirement occurs during the match, often after one or more sets have been completed.
In summary, a walkover happens before the match begins, while a retirement happens during the match.
A walkover doesn’t count as a win or loss for either player’s record.
This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Djokovic advanced in Wimbledon on a walkover. What is a walkover in tennis?
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