Kenya’s tennis governing body has acknowledged a serious lapse in judgment after a wildcard entry at the ITF W35 Nairobi sparked widespread backlash across the tennis world.
In an official statement issued on Thursday, Tennis Kenya admitted that granting a main-draw wildcard to Hajar Abdelkader was a mistake, following the circulation of a viral video that raised concerns about the player’s readiness for professional competition.
The controversy arose from Abdelkader’s first-round match against Germany’s Lorena Schaedel at the Parklands Sports Club in Nairobi. The match ended in a one-sided 6-0, 6-0 defeat in just 37 minutes, with Abdelkader managing to win only three points in the entire contest—two from double faults and one from an unforced error.
Match statistics highlighted the scale of the mismatch. Abdelkader committed 20 double faults, landed just 8.3% of her first serves, and at one point required guidance from the chair umpire on where to stand to begin a point—an extremely rare sight at a professional International Tennis Federation (ITF) event.
Footage from the match quickly went viral on social media, with fans, players, and officials questioning how such a wildcard was approved at this level of competition.
In its explanation, Tennis Kenya said the wildcard became available after the original recipient withdrew at short notice to play in the qualifying draw. Abdelkader, who had submitted a formal request and arrived in Nairobi on the morning of the match, was the only remaining applicant.
The federation stated that the decision was taken based on information provided by the player, who indicated she possessed sufficient competitive experience. The wildcard was also granted in line with policies aimed at supporting African player development and maintaining a full tournament draw.
However, Tennis Kenya conceded that the process failed in this instance.
“In hindsight, Tennis Kenya acknowledges that this wildcard should not have been granted,” the statement said.
Both Tennis Kenya and the ITF emphasised the importance of player welfare, noting the intense online scrutiny faced by Abdelkader following the match. The organisations confirmed that both players involved had been contacted and offered support.
At the same time, Tennis Kenya promised corrective measures to ensure such an incident does not recur.
“The federation has taken note of this experience and will ensure that such an extremely rare occurrence never happens again,” it said, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, fairness, and the integrity of competition.
The episode has reignited debate around the wildcard system in professional tennis, which is designed to support local players, returning athletes, or emerging talent. Critics argue that the Nairobi mismatch undermined the credibility of ITF events, with veteran tournament director Randy Walker calling it “a straight-up disrespect to the integrity of the sport.”
