Match organisers in Nairobi mentioned they made a mistake in granting a wildcard entry to a participant whose struggles with the fundamentals of tennis went viral on social media.
Hajar Abdelkader, competing underneath an Egyptian flag, misplaced 6-0 6-0 to German world quantity 1026 Lorena Schaedel in 37 minutes at an Worldwide Tennis Federation (ITF) W35 event on Wednesday, profitable solely three factors and committing 20 double faults.
Of the three factors she received, none have been off her personal racquet. Two have been double faults, and one was a return from Schaedel that sailed large.
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The 21-year-old novice appeared unfamiliar with the best way to play the game, touchdown fewer than one in 10 first serves and needing her opponent to direct her to the right aspect of the court docket, as clips went viral with some calling it the “worst ever” skilled debut.
In footage circulating on-line, it regarded as if Schaedel at one level even hit some light lobs to Abdelkader within the hope of producing some type of rally.
Hajar Abdelkader made what’s been dubbed the ‘wost ever’ debut in skilled sport in an ITF event in Nairobi. X
Tennis Kenya, hosts of the occasion, mentioned Abdelkader was given a last-minute wildcard after one other participant withdrew shortly earlier than the event, trying to preserve a full and balanced draw. The choice, they mentioned, was taken primarily based on data offered by the participant.
“In hindsight, this wildcard shouldn’t have been granted,” Tennis Kenya mentioned in a press release.
“The federation has taken word of this expertise and can make sure that such an especially uncommon incidence by no means occurs once more.”
The Egyptian Tennis Federation distanced themselves from the debacle, telling the Each day Mail and BBC that Abdelkader isn’t registered with the organisation and performed no position in her nomination or entry.
They added that they’d no additional details about her tennis background, regardless of her ITF profile stating that she has performed the game because the age of 14.
Tennis Kenya mentioned they’d contacted each gamers concerned to supply help following the extent and nature of the protection of the lopsided match, which was a part of the entry stage {of professional} tennis the place occasions nonetheless award prize cash and rating factors.
