What was meant to be just another early-round fixture at a low-tier professional tennis event quickly turned into one of the most talked-about matches in the sport.
A brief, uncomfortable contest in Nairobi has now raised troubling questions about honesty, oversight, and how a player with almost no visible competitive ability made it onto a professional court.
How a 37-Minute Match Went Viral for All the Wrong Reasons
Hajar Abdelkader, a 21-year-old Egyptian player, stepped onto the court on January 6 for her professional debut at an International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament in Nairobi.
Less than 40 minutes later, the match was over—and the footage was everywhere.
Abdelkader lost 6-0, 6-0 to Germany’s Lorena Schaedel, ranked 1,139 in the world, in a performance many viewers described as the worst professional debut tennis has ever seen.
The video spread rapidly online, with fans stunned by Abdelkader’s apparent inability to execute basic tennis skills expected at even an amateur level.
Moments That Left Spectators Stunned
The match featured a series of moments that quickly became viral clips.
At one point, Abdelkader tossed the ball behind herself while attempting to serve.
On another occasion, Schaedel had to stop play and instruct her opponent where to stand on the baseline before serving.
Statistically, the numbers were just as alarming.
Abdelkader recorded 20 double faults, landed only eight percent of her serves, and won just a handful of points.
Schaedel, by contrast, dropped only three points throughout the entire match, all due to two double faults and one unforced error.
Disappearance After the Backlash
As criticism and ridicule poured in from across the tennis world, Abdelkader seemingly vanished.
Tournament officials later admitted they could not locate her and had no idea where she had gone following the public backlash.
This disappearance only intensified scrutiny, especially as organisers began questioning whether she had been truthful about her background and experience.
Tournament Officials Raise Cheating Concerns
One tournament organiser told The Telegraph that Abdelkader is now suspected of lying to gain entry into the competition.
According to the official, she allegedly submitted false information about her ranking and playing history to secure a spot.
“We can’t find her and don’t know where she’s gone,” the source said, adding that officials are now trying to understand how she knew what details to provide to pass the entry checks in the first place.
Questions Over Her Claimed Tennis Background
Abdelkader’s profile on the ITF website states that she has been playing tennis since the age of 14.
However, footage from the Nairobi match appeared to contradict that claim, with her performance resembling that of a recreational beginner rather than a seasoned competitor.
This glaring mismatch between her stated experience and on-court ability has become central to the ongoing investigation.
How She Got Into the Tournament
Tennis Kenya later admitted that Abdelkader should never have been allowed to compete.
Officials revealed that she had repeatedly emailed from December 26, pleading for an opportunity to play.
Each request was rejected—until a Kenyan professional withdrew at the last minute.
With a sudden vacancy to fill, Abdelkader was granted a wild card entry, a decision the federation now openly regrets.
Why ITF Events Still Matter
Although the ITF World Tennis Tour sits below the WTA, ATP, and Challenger Tours, it is still a legitimate professional platform.
Players use these events to rebuild rankings, return from injury, or chase valuable prize money and points.
The Nairobi W35 event, despite offering the second-lowest prize tier, still had £22,000 ($25,000) available for the winner.
Notably, seven players ranked inside the world’s top 500 were competing, highlighting how out of place Abdelkader’s performance appeared.
Tennis Kenya Admits a Serious Mistake
Nancy Nduku, secretary general of Tennis Kenya, later acknowledged the federation’s error.
She said the wild card should never have been granted and promised safeguards to prevent a repeat.
In a separate statement, Tennis Kenya explained that Abdelkader was awarded the wild card because she “indicated that she had an appropriate level of competitive playing experience.”
Egyptian Federation Confirms Her Identity
The Egyptian Tennis Federation confirmed that Abdelkader is an Egyptian national who currently lives in Kenya.
They also stated that she has never competed in official tournaments in Egypt, adding another layer of mystery to her sudden appearance on the professional circuit.
What Happens Next?
With investigations ongoing and Abdelkader still unaccounted for, the incident has sparked wider debate about vetting processes, wild card abuse, and the integrity of lower-tier professional tennis.
For now, the match remains a cautionary tale—one that organisers across the sport are unlikely to forget anytime soon.
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