A mysterious twist hit the world of professional tennis when 21-year-old Hajar Abdelkader walked onto the court at a tournament in Nairobi and left audiences completely baffled. With just three points to her name and 20 double faults, Abdelkader’s 37-minute match against 1,026th-ranked Lorena Schaedel from Germany has become the talk of social media.
Clips of the game show Abdelkader appearing unsure of even where to stand on the court. As her opponent guided her to the right position, it became clear that Abdelkader might not have played competitively before. Many are questioning how she gained entry to this £22,000 prize event.
Tennis Kenya, the hosting body, revealed Abdelkader applied for a wildcard slot following a last-minute withdrawal by another player. They granted her entry believing she met the competitive experience criteria based on her application. However, after the match, they’ve admitted that Abdelkader should not have been allowed entry and assured that such an oversight won’t occur again.
In an unexpected twist, the Egyptian Tennis Federation has stated they have no record of Abdelkader, distancing themselves from her performance and her involvement in the tournament. Officials have remarked that she has never officially been on any Egyptian player lists.
This curious incident has certainly sparked discussions across the tennis world, with many amused and puzzled by how Abdelkader found herself on this international stage. Whether accidental or intentional, Abdelkader’s moment in the tennis spotlight won’t be forgotten anytime soon! 🎾