A bizarre incident at the ITF W35 tournament in Nairobi, Kenya has gone viral after 21-year-old Egyptian Hajar Abdelkader demonstrated a complete inability to play tennis despite being granted a wildcard entry into the professional competition.
The match, played on January 7, 2026, saw Abdelkader face Germany's Lorena Schaedel, ranked world No. 1026. What followed was arguably the most embarrassing professional tennis debut in history: a 6-0, 6-0 defeat in just 37 minutes, during which Abdelkader won only three points – all of which were unforced errors by her opponent.
Video footage that quickly went viral showed Abdelkader struggling with the most basic elements of the game. She committed an astonishing 20 double faults, appeared confused about where to stand when serving, and at times seemed uncertain about the fundamental rules of tennis. Her opponent reportedly had to explain basic procedures during the match.
The incident has raised serious questions about how someone with no apparent tennis skills could gain access to a professional tournament. Tennis Kenya explained that the wildcard became available after a last-minute withdrawal, and Abdelkader was "the only other player who had requested a wildcard" at the time. She had claimed to possess "an appropriate level of competitive playing experience."
However, the Egyptian Tennis Federation has distanced itself from the player, telling media that Abdelkader is not registered with them and is not part of their official player lists. According to their statement, "the player is currently residing in Kenya."
This scandal highlights a troubling pattern seen across various African sporting federations, where individuals from wealthy or well-connected families can sometimes bypass standard qualification processes. The lack of rigorous vetting procedures and the pressure to fill tournament draws can create opportunities for those with connections rather than skills to access professional competitions.
Tennis Kenya has since acknowledged their error, stating: "In hindsight, Tennis Kenya acknowledges that this wildcard should not have been granted given the level. The federation has taken note of this experience and will ensure that such an extremely rare occurrence never happens again."
The ITF has removed the match video from its official website without explanation. Both Tennis Kenya and the ITF have reportedly reached out to Abdelkader and her opponent Schaedel to offer support, acknowledging the personal toll that such viral exposure can have.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for proper governance and qualification standards in professional sports, particularly in regions where oversight may be lacking and where wealth or connections can potentially override merit-based selection.
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