Egyptian Tennis Federation Denies Official Involvement in Nairobi Controversy Surrounding Hajar Abdelkader

What happened in Nairobi

Egyptian Tennis Federation issues a clarifying statement, saying it has no knowledge of Hajar Abdelkader's participation in the Nairobi Open.

The federation states that Abdelkader is not officially registered with them and is not listed among approved players.

It notes that the player currently resides in Kenya and joined the Nairobi event via a wildcard invitation issued by the Kenyan Tennis Association.

Federation's position and ITF rules

The federation emphasizes that it had no role in nominating or approving her entry, nor in the entry procedures itself.

It adds that the Nairobi Open is governed by ITF rules, which allow a wildcard to a player from any nationality, without requiring consent from a national federation.

Additionally, the federation says it bears no further technical, competitive, or administrative information about the player or her circumstances.

It concludes by noting it cannot be held responsible for any outcomes related to the player's participation and remains open to comments if needed.

P.S. Light note: apparently, even a wildcard can feel like a mystery shopper when it comes to federation oversight.

P.S.2. If governance were a serve, this story would be an ace—just a bit of a double fault on the press front.