Hajar Abdelkader, a 21-year-old Egyptian wildcard entrant, suffered a swift defeat at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W35 tournament in Nairobi on Wednesday, losing 6-0, 6-0 in just 37 minutes while serving 20 double faults. The match, part of a tournament hosted by Tennis Kenya, has garnered significant attention online due to Abdelkader's performance.
Abdelkader, who according to her ITF biography began playing tennis at age 14, managed to win only three points during the match against Lorena Schaedel of Germany. Two of those points came from double faults by Schaedel, ranked 1,026th in the world, and the other from an unforced error. The lopsided scoreline and Abdelkader's struggles prompted widespread discussion about the decision to grant her a wildcard entry.
Tennis Kenya acknowledged the controversy surrounding Abdelkader's participation, stating that she should not have been allowed to play. The organization said it has reached out to both Abdelkader and Schaedel to offer support "given the extent and nature of coverage of this match." They confirmed Abdelkader had applied for a wildcard and was granted a spot at the last minute.
The match has drawn comparisons to other instances of unexpectedly poor performances in professional tennis, though the sheer number of double faults and the brevity of the contest set it apart. The ITF W35 tournament is part of a series of events designed to provide opportunities for players to earn ranking points and prize money. The incident raises questions about the criteria for awarding wildcards and the potential impact on the integrity of the competition.
The ITF has not yet released a statement regarding the match or the wildcard selection process. It remains to be seen if Tennis Kenya will revise its procedures for granting wildcards in future tournaments following this event.
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