The absurdity of lucky losers returns to the scene: withdrawing in the qualifying rounds knowing you will play the main draw

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The preliminary stages of Washington and Los Cabos 2026 have once again brought to light a situation that is difficult to justify and occurs too frequently on the circuit. Players who know they have virtually secured their entry as a lucky loser into the main draw end up withdrawing or not playing their last qualifying match, saving energy to compete later in the tournament.

Two cases have reignited the controversy. Zachary Svajda retired during the decisive match of the Washington qualifying rounds and later entered the main draw as a lucky loser. In Los Cabos, Bernard Tomic granted a walkover before playing his final qualifying match and also ended up joining the main draw.

A system in urgent need of changes

The issue arises when withdrawals from the main draw are known while the qualifying rounds are still ongoing. Certain players may know in advance that, even by losing, they are guaranteed a spot as a lucky loser. Competing thus ceases to offer them nearly any incentive, and withdrawing allows them to save valuable energy.

A highly controversial injustice🙃

Zachary Svajda🇺🇸 and Bernard Tomic🇦🇺 retired in the final round of Qualifying in Washington and Los Cabos, respectively

🫠Both managed to enter the main draw as Lucky Losers pic.twitter.com/E7nZdqCs1U

— Iván Aguilar (@ivabianconero) July 27, 2026

This situation distorts the competition and can harm other participants in the qualifying rounds who might have a chance of entering as lucky losers depending on the results. Furthermore, it is hard to explain to the audience why a player withdraws due to alleged physical impossibility and then, just a few hours later, is ready to compete in the main draw.

Tennis needs to find a solution that eliminates these perverse incentives. One possibility could be that a withdrawal or walkover in the decisive round of the qualifiers disqualifies a player from entering as a lucky loser, unless there is a medical justification compatible with competing later. Another option would be to modify the selection process to prevent players from knowing in advance that they are guaranteed entry.

Washington and Los Cabos did not create the problem. They simply highlighted a regulatory loophole that has been producing indefensible situations for too long. Finding a solution is urgent.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El absurdo de los lucky losers vuelve a escena: retirarse en la previa sabiendo que jugarás el cuadro final