I've actually proposed similar ideas to the tour several times. If a player can't go, let the person she beat in the prior round replace her. The incentive being that if the replacement wins, they would split the extra ranking points gained.
Why reward the withdrawing player with points? If someone is hurting that badly, it's better for all that they pull out. Better for the player (to heal), and better for the fans, as they get to see a healthy (or, at least, healthier) player compete. Without giving the potential of some points to the injured player, they might come out and just play one game, then quit. That's not really any better.
And she would only get points if her replacement wins.
But what's to stop a reasonably healthy player from feigning injury to avoid a player they feel they can't beat, and sending in the substitute, who they think would have a better chance? Nothing. But, if a player really has the attitude that she has no chance, then it's better if someone who feels they do plays the match.
Other incentives could be added to make it workable. A payment out of an "injury fund" to the replacement, a few extra bonus ranking points to the player who would have won by default under the old rules, etc. This contingency would only be necessary in the later rounds (say from the quarters on). It would benefit the tour and tournaments with TV contracts, etc. if they could be guaranteed that every tournament would have matches the whole way through; and matches that count for the rankings.
Why reward the withdrawing player with points? If someone is hurting that badly, it's better for all that they pull out. Better for the player (to heal), and better for the fans, as they get to see a healthy (or, at least, healthier) player compete. Without giving the potential of some points to the injured player, they might come out and just play one game, then quit. That's not really any better.
And she would only get points if her replacement wins.
But what's to stop a reasonably healthy player from feigning injury to avoid a player they feel they can't beat, and sending in the substitute, who they think would have a better chance? Nothing. But, if a player really has the attitude that she has no chance, then it's better if someone who feels they do plays the match.
Other incentives could be added to make it workable. A payment out of an "injury fund" to the replacement, a few extra bonus ranking points to the player who would have won by default under the old rules, etc. This contingency would only be necessary in the later rounds (say from the quarters on). It would benefit the tour and tournaments with TV contracts, etc. if they could be guaranteed that every tournament would have matches the whole way through; and matches that count for the rankings.
