A tennis match that went viral for all the wrong reasons has sparked debate among tournament organizers and fans alike. The International Tennis Federation's W35 tournament in Nairobi, Kenya, featured a highly unusual performance from 21-year-old Egyptian Hajar Abdelkader, who appeared to be a novice on the professional circuit. The match, which lasted 37 minutes, saw Abdelkader lose 6-0, 6-0 to Germany's Lorena Schaedel, with the score being heavily influenced by Abdelkader's 20 double faults and her opponent's errors. This performance raised questions about the criteria for wild card invitations, as Abdelkader was admitted to the tournament without a prior ranking or qualification, despite having only played tennis for seven years. The Egyptian Tennis Federation denied any involvement in her selection, and Tennis Kenya acknowledged the decision to include her in the main draw was based on maintaining a full draw and supporting African tennis development. However, the organization also admitted that such a performance should not have been allowed, and they are committed to ensuring fair and transparent practices moving forward.
