Tennis Kenya Admits Mistake Over Wildcard Entry Following Viral Defeat
Image source: ITF
Image caption: Hajar Abdelkader’s biography on the ITF website states she began playing tennis at age 14.
By Stewart Maclean, BBC News, Nairobi
Published 8 January 2026
The organizers of a professional women’s tournament in Nairobi have acknowledged significant errors regarding a wildcard player’s shocking performance, which has since gone viral on social media.
– Performance Highlights: Egyptian player Hajar Abdelkader, 21, faced a staggering defeat of 6-0, 6-0, serving an astonishing 20 double faults during her first-round match. The game’s footage left many spectators questioning her experience with tennis.
– Match Statistics: In the 37-minute match, Abdelkader managed to win only three points, deriving mainly from two double faults by her opponent, Lorena Schaedel, along with an unforced error from the bemused German, who is ranked 1,026th in the world.
The match formed part of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W35 tournament hosted by Tennis Kenya, which governs the sport in the country. Following the overwhelming media response, Tennis Kenya reached out to both players, offering support due to the match’s extensive coverage.
Tennis Kenya explained that Abdelkader applied for the wildcard due to a last-minute opening after another player withdrew. While the organization aimed to maintain diversity in player representation, they later admitted that allowing her to compete was a misjudgment.
– Official Statement: “The federation has taken note of this experience and is committed to ensuring that such an extremely rare occurrence never happens again,” the organization stated. “Tennis Kenya remains dedicated to fairness, transparency, and the integrity of competition, as well as the ongoing development of tennis in Kenya, East Africa, and across Africa.”
In a follow-up statement, the Egyptian Tennis Federation confirmed that Abdelkader has never been registered as an Egyptian player. Technical Director Dia Nabil Loutfy clarified, “She is not on our official player lists and was not entered into the tournament on Egypt’s behalf.”
– Clarification from Egyptian Tennis Federation: “Based on our records, she was previously residing in Kenya and participated in the ITF tournament in Nairobi through a wildcard granted by the Kenyan Tennis Federation. We had no involvement in her entry into the tournament whatsoever.”
The organization reiterated that it has no records related to Abdelkader and that she has never been affiliated with the Egyptian Tennis Federation.
In conclusion, Tennis Kenya’s experience serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper vetting processes for wildcard players, ensuring that all participants meet the necessary qualifications to uphold the integrity of the sport.