Ask an Official: Withdrawals and Retirements

Sometimes plans change or the unexpected happens. Maybe you signed up for a tournament before an injury or an unexpected event happens and you have to withdraw, either way, the rules are designed to accommodate while also encouraging a fair environment for all players and tournament organizers. 

Withdrawals

✅ There is no penalty for withdrawing BEFORE entries close. 

However, once entries close, it’s another story: 

Withdrawing AFTER player selections, and Without a valid reason, may lead to 4 suspension points. 

If you need to withdraw for injury, illness, or personal circumstances after entries close but before play begins, be courteous and NOTIFY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR ASAP to allow time for the opponent to be notified. It’s no fun showing up to a tournament with no one to play!

To avoid suspension points, make sure your reason for withdrawing is valid. Selected players must have a valid reason to withdraw.

For more information on justifications for withdrawing, see 2024 Friend at Court, pg. 115, Table 17.

Retirements

What about once the event has begun? In that case, leaving the event would be considered a Retirement. A retirement occurs when a player is unable to continue playing a match or resume playing a suspended match because of injury, illness, or personal circumstances. 

✅ A person who retires from a match remains eligible for other matches, including consolations, place playoffs, and doubles.

It is also treated as a retirement when a junior player does not finish a match because of adult discipline.

Be aware that a player who retires in a round-robin event finishes lower than every other player who has an identical match record. 2024 Friend at Court, pg. 75, Section (d).

TIP: College coaches look at the retirement records of their prospective players and consider this. If a player retires from a match because they are losing and want to prevent a drop in rating, it can still go against you in college recruiting. 

For more information visit 2024 Friend at Court, pg. 168, Retirement.