Archive · 8 Jan 2026
Wildcard Tennis Match Sparks Backlash in Nairobi
A young tennis player named Hajar Abdelkader played her first professional match in Nairobi.
She lost very badly, winning only three points and making 20 mistakes while serving.
People online made fun of her and also questioned how she was allowed to play in the tournament.
Her opponent, Lorena Schaedel, won easily.
The match has started a discussion about how players are chosen to compete in these tournaments.
Hajar Abdelkader lost her debut match at the ITF W35 Nairobi event 6-0, 6-0 to Lorena Schaedel.
Abdelkader won only three points, two from her opponent's double faults and one from an unforced error.
She committed 20 double faults and landed just 8.3% of her first serves.
The match lasted only 37 minutes and sparked online ridicule and debate over the wildcard system.
This was Abdelkader's first-ever tour-level appearance, having started playing tennis at age 14.
- Who
- Hajar Abdelkader, a 21-year-old Egyptian tennis player, and Lorena Schaedel, a German tennis player ranked world No. 1026.
- What
- Hajar Abdelkader lost her first-round match at the ITF W35 event in Nairobi with a score of 6-0, 6-0, winning only three points and committing 20 double faults.
- When
- January 7, 2026.
- Where
- Nairobi, Kenya.
- Why
- The match sparked backlash and debate over the wildcard system in tennis due to the significant disparity in skill and performance.
- Player
- Hajar Abdelkader
- Opponent
- Lorena Schaedel
- Match Result
- 6-0, 6-0
- Points Won
- 3
- Double Faults
- 20
- First Serve Percentage
- 8.3%
- Tournament
- ITF W35 Nairobi
- Date
- January 7, 2026