A Retirement occurs when a player is unable to continue playing a match or resume a suspended match due to injury, illness, or personal emergency.
The player is forced to withdraw, forfeiting the match and tournament.
Retirements are different from walkovers, which happen because of administrative errors or a player's decision not to play before the match begins. Retirements occur during an ongoing match that cannot be completed.
Some famous examples of retirements include Novak Djokovic's withdrawal from the 2017 Wimbledon quarterfinal against Tomas Berdych due to an elbow injury.
While retirements are disappointing for players and fans, they are sometimes necessary to prevent further injury or address urgent personal matters. The decision to retire is never easy, but it prioritizes the player's well-being.