Professional tennis was shaken by a startling incident at a W35 tournament in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, where a wildcard entry drew widespread scrutiny for all the wrong reasons. Egyptian player Hajar Abdelkader’s on-court performance sparked questions from fans and pundits alike over the ITF’s decision to grant her entry. The controversy has since intensified, with Danielle Collins recently adding her voice to the criticism.
Danielle Collins Slams ‘Absolutely Mind Blowing’ ITF W35 Wildcard Entry
The ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour is structured into five tiers, ranging from W15 events to W100 tournaments, which sit beneath both the WTA Tour and the Challenger circuit. The incident occurred at the W35 Nairobi tournament, which boasts a total prize purse of $30,000 and features both singles and doubles competitions.
Egyptian wildcard Hajar Abdelkader drew widespread attention for the wrong reasons, struggling to cope with even the basic demands of the professional level. Facing Germany’s Lorena Schaedel, she appeared disjointed and uncompetitive, ending in a 6-0, 6-0 defeat in just 37 minutes. Abdelkader committed 20 double faults and won only three points in the entire match, all of which came from her opponent’s double faults.
The numbers only deepened the disbelief, as she reportedly landed just 8.3% of her first serves and 9.1% of her second serves. Footage from the match has since gone viral, showing Abdelkader mishandling her serve toss and adopting unconventional return positions. The clip left the tennis world stunned, including Coco Gauff’s former coach and ex-World No. 4 Brad Gilbert, who earlier expressed his surprise on X.
Like many within the tennis community, Danielle Collins voiced her frustration after seeing the video circulate on social media. The World No. 62 expressed disbelief at the player’s inclusion, openly questioning the ITF over how the situation was allowed to unfold. She wrote, “Absolutely mind blowing that this can happen at a pro level event. What are we doing Itf tennis?”
The incident has sparked serious questions about the integrity of the sport worldwide, and it remains unclear what steps the authorities will take in response. Meanwhile, Collins is focused on returning to competitive tennis soon. She closed the season with a 15–14 record, highlighted by a semifinal appearance in Strasbourg and a quarterfinal run in Charleston.
Collins later revealed she was ending her 2025 season early due to health reasons and her long-term goal of starting a family. Fans, however, can look forward to a revitalized version of the American star, who could miss the early part of the 2026 season, possibly taking on a commentary role with Tennis Channel during the Australian Open.
