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Tennis Kenya Concedes Wild-Card Mistake After Viral 6-0, 6-0 Match in Nairobi

The organizer says the slot was filled by the only applicant after a late withdrawal.

Overview

  • Hajar Abdelkader lost to Lorena Schaedel 6-0, 6-0 in 37 minutes, winning three points and committing 20 double faults, according to official records.
  • Tennis Kenya said Abdelkader received a late wild card as the sole formal applicant and acknowledged the invitation should not have been granted.
  • The federation pledged steps to prevent a repeat and noted it has contacted both players, with the ITF also offering support.
  • Egypt’s tennis federation said Abdelkader is not registered with it, denied involvement in her entry, and indicated it will investigate.
  • The full match video was removed from the ITF site without public explanation, and the incident reignited scrutiny of wild-card practices, referencing past ITIA sanctions for paid invitations.