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Tennis Kenya Admits Error in Granting Wildcard After Viral 37-Minute Rout

The federation says a last-minute invitation given to 21-year-old Hajar Abdelkader following a withdrawal should not have been issued.

Overview

  • Abdelkader lost 6-0, 6-0 to Germany’s Lorena Schaedel in 37 minutes, winning three points and serving 20 double faults, according to match statistics.
  • Tennis Kenya says she was awarded the place to keep a full and balanced draw after a late withdrawal, noting she was the only remaining wildcard applicant.
  • The Egyptian Tennis Federation says Abdelkader is not registered with it and that it had no role in her nomination or entry.
  • The full match video, previously hosted on the ITF website, has been taken offline as Tennis Kenya and the ITF say they reached out to both players to offer support.
  • The incident has renewed scrutiny of wildcard vetting at lower-tier events, but there has been no announcement of disciplinary action or a formal investigation.