Tennis Kenya has been forced into a humiliating apology after a video of an amateur player struggling through a professional match in Nairobi went viral, drawing ridicule from the global tennis community.

The match at the ITF W35 tournament saw Egyptian "wildcard" Hajar Abdelkader lose 6-0, 6-0 to German pro Lorena Schaedel in just 37 minutes. Abdelkader won only three points in the entire match and served 20 double faults, looking completely out of her depth against the world number 1,026.

The "Worst Match Ever"?

Clips of Abdelkader failing to land a serve or return a basic volley spread like wildfire on X (Twitter), with fans questioning how she gained entry to an ITF event. The integrity of the tournament—and the "wildcard" system—was called into question.

• The Explanation: Tennis Kenya admitted to an administrative error. Abdelkader was granted a last-minute slot to balance the draw after a withdrawal. The federation claimed they relied on "information provided" by the player regarding her competence, which turned out to be... optimistic.
• The Apology: "In hindsight, this wildcard should not have been granted," the statement read. "We will ensure such an occurrence never happens again."
• Human Cost: While the internet laughed, Tennis Kenya has reached out to offer support to both players, recognizing the potential mental health toll of such public humiliation.

A Lesson in Vetting

The incident highlights the need for rigorous vetting in sports administration. A professional tournament is not a place for "tryouts." For Tennis Kenya, it is a harsh lesson: in the age of streaming, every error is broadcast to the world.