It wasn’t the kind of debut anyone plans for, but it’s the one everyone’s talking about. Twenty-one-year-old wildcard entrant Hajar Abdelkader made her professional debut at the ITF Nairobi tournament. But instead of the memory she’d hoped for, the Egyptian found herself at the center of a jaw-dropping viral moment that left tennis fans stunned.

The disbelief wasn’t just about Abdelkader losing 6-0, 6-0 in just 37 minutes. That happens even to the pros. For example, Iga Swiatek defeated America’s Amanda Anisimova by 6-0, 6-0 in just 57 minutes in the 2025 Wimbledon singles final. But what shocked the tennis world was just how unprepared Abdelkader looked against the world No. 1026, Lorena Schaedel.

Schaedel only dropped three points the entire match, and two of those came from her own double faults.

Meanwhile, Abdelkader struggled with the bare fundamentals. She repeatedly served the ball into the net. She double-faulted on an astonishing 20 of her 24 service points. On several occasions, the umpire had to gently point out where she needed to stand to begin the point.

Fans watching the video couldn’t believe it!

Fans ask for accountability after the Hajar Abdelkader blunder

Hajar Abdelkader reportedly received a last-minute wildcard after a local Kenyan player withdrew. Her ITF profile claims she’s been playing tennis for seven years. That revelation alone sent social media into another frenzy.

A fan wrote, “That’s a girl who first grabbed a racket at 14. How is she even allowed to play pro tournaments?”

That was an emotional reaction. Fans love an underdog story. They celebrate grit. They cheer for long shots. But watching someone so visibly outmatched ignited a strange mix of frustration and protectiveness.

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Dressed in a black T-shirt and leggings, compared to her opponent’s conventional tennis attire, amid humid temperatures in the high twenties, Abdelkader wafted serves high into the air, only to miss their mark more often than not. She landed just 8.3% of her first serves.

Another fan tweeted, “Worst athlete ever seen? 🤯 Let’s see her game at Wimbledon next!”

Many blamed the organizers for putting her in a situation that she clearly wasn’t ready for.

“I don’t think we should be bashing the player Hajar Abdelkader here but rather the organizers and officials who made/let this happen and gave her the WC,” renowned tennis coach Sascha Bajin posted on X.

The performance immediately raised questions about how Abdelkader was allowed to compete.

Here’s what the rulebook says. Section D.1.k of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, offer, pay or accept any money, benefit or Consideration for the provision of a wildcard to an Event.

After seeing this video clip, several tennis bigwigs have even called for action to be taken if anyone is found guilty.

“Allowing this to happen makes the ITF World Tennis Tour look like a disgrace, and it has crossed over into the mainstream. It demeans every amazingly talented player who competes on this circuit. Action needs to be made immediately against the people that made this mockery happen,” Randy Walker wrote on X.

In the last few years, there’s been a constant outcry for an investigation into the wildcards handed in lower-tier matches. Remember the incident featuring US billionaire Bill Ackman that created similar buzz?

When billionaire Ackman secured a wildcard spot in the 2025 Hall of Fame Open in Newport and played doubles with former pro Jack Sock, Andy Roddick labeled it “the biggest joke.” Others, like Jon Wertheim and Martina Navratilova, also raised serious questions about him getting the wildcard.

Coming back to Hajar Abdelkader, another fan tweeted, “Don’t know what’s worse, the serve, the fact she’s a wild card, or that she got 3 points.”

For Abdelkader, it will surely be a tough memory. For the tennis world, it’s a moment that won’t be easily forgotten, because sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.