Tennis Body Concedes Wildcard Error After Viral Defeat
The governing body for tennis in Kenya has publicly admitted it made an error in awarding a wildcard entry to Egyptian player Hajar Abdelkader, after footage of her heavy defeat at a professional tournament in Nairobi went viral on social media. The incident has ignited a significant debate about the transparency and criteria for awarding wildcards in the sport.
A Match That Captured Global Attention
The controversy centres on a first-round match at an ITF-sanctioned tournament in Nairobi. Hajar Abdelkader, a 21-year-old Egyptian, suffered a comprehensive 6-0, 6-0 loss to Germany's Lorena Schaedel, who is ranked 1,026 in the world. During the match, Abdelkader managed to win just three points and served an extraordinary 20 double faults. Videos shared online showed the player struggling profoundly with her serve and court positioning, raising immediate questions about her readiness for professional competition.
According to her profile on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) website, this match in Nairobi marked the first professional contest of Abdelkader's career.
Tennis Kenya's Explanation and Reversal
In a statement released on Thursday, Tennis Kenya explained the sequence of events that led to Abdelkader's participation. The federation stated that the wildcard for the second week of the event was granted after a "short-notice withdrawal by the originally intended recipient." At that time, Abdelkader was reportedly the only other player to have submitted a formal request for the spot.
Tennis Kenya said the invitation was approved based on the information the player provided and with the aim of "maintaining a full and balanced draw while supporting the development of tennis in Africa." However, the body has now performed a stark U-turn. "In hindsight, Tennis Kenya acknowledges that this wildcard should not have been granted," the statement read. It added that the federation had "taken note of this experience and will ensure that such an extremely rare occurrence never happen[s] again."
Federations Distance Themselves From Decision
The fallout from the match has seen other organisations clarify their roles. The ITF confirmed that the decision to grant wildcards for the Nairobi tournament was solely the responsibility of Tennis Kenya. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Tennis Federation published a statement on Facebook denying any involvement. "She is not registered with the Egyptian Tennis Federation and is not listed on any of our official player rosters," the Egyptian body stated, effectively distancing itself from the player.
While the practice of favouring local players with wildcards is common across the sport—even at Grand Slam and WTA level—the glaring mismatch in Nairobi has put the system under intense scrutiny. It highlights the potential pitfalls when subjective invitations are granted without robust verification of a player's competitive standard.
Wellbeing of Players Takes Centre Stage
Amid the global media coverage and often harsh commentary on social media, Tennis Kenya has expressed concern for the individuals involved. Recognising the intense scrutiny faced by both competitors, the federation emphasised the need for support. "This is a young person and given the extent and nature of coverage of this match, Tennis Kenya and the ITF recognise the need to keep the wellbeing of both players as a primary consideration," the statement said. "Both organisations have reached out to the two players to offer support."
The episode serves as a cautionary tale for tournament organisers worldwide, underscoring the fine balance between offering opportunities for development and maintaining the professional integrity of competitive events.
