Mystery Player Shocks Tennis World: Hajar Abdelkader’s Bizarre Entry into a ₹24 Lakh Tournament Raises Serious Questions

The global tennis fraternity has been left stunned by an extraordinary and controversial episode involving 21-year-old Hajar Abdelkader, a player who has been labelled by many as “the world’s worst tennis player” following her astonishing appearance at a professional tournament in Nairobi.

Abdelkader’s participation in the ITF W35 Nairobi tournament, which carries a total prize purse of £22,000 (approximately ₹24 lakh), has sparked widespread debate over player verification, wildcard entries, and the integrity of selection processes in professional tennis.

A 37-Minute Match That Shocked Everyone

Abdelkader’s match ended in embarrassment, as she lost 6-0, 6-0 in just 37 minutes, managing to win only three points throughout the contest. She committed an astonishing 20 double faults, and her overall movement and technique suggested a complete lack of familiarity with professional tennis.

Observers were left bewildered when her opponent reportedly had to guide her on where to stand while serving, an incident rarely—if ever—seen at this level of competition. Adding to the surprise, Abdelkader appeared on court in casual leggings and a T-shirt, rather than standard professional tennis attire. Clips of the match quickly went viral on social media, drawing disbelief, ridicule, and concern in equal measure.

Egyptian Tennis Federation Distances Itself

The controversy deepened when the Egyptian Tennis Federation publicly denied any association with the player, despite her competing under the Egyptian flag. Federation secretary Walid Sami stated that Abdelkader is not registered with the federation and has never been part of Egypt’s official tennis programs.

According to the federation, there is no record of Abdelkader having played professional tennis previously. Officials further suggested that she may be based in Kenya and has no formal link to Egypt’s national tennis structure, raising questions about how nationality and eligibility were verified.

Wildcard Entry Under Fire

The biggest unanswered question remains: How did Abdelkader gain entry into a professional ITF tournament?
Tournament organizers Tennis Kenya admitted that she was granted a wildcard entry after another player withdrew. They claimed the decision was made based on the information provided by the player and with the intention of promoting tennis development in Africa.

However, following the backlash, organizers conceded that the wildcard should not have been awarded, acknowledging a serious lapse in due diligence.

A Wake-Up Call for Professional Tennis

The incident has exposed glaring weaknesses in the vetting and identification of players at international tournaments. While professional athletes spend years grinding through lower circuits to improve rankings and earn qualification spots, the appearance of an unverified and clearly underprepared player at such a level has raised concerns about fairness and governance.

For now, Hajar Abdelkader remains an enigma. Who she is, how she entered the tournament, and what her true tennis background may be are questions that remain unanswered. What is clear, however, is that the episode has embarrassed tournament organizers and cast a shadow over the credibility of selection mechanisms in professional tennis—prompting calls for stricter checks to prevent such incidents in the future.