Jessica Pegula Breaks Silence on “Worst Match Ever!” 😱 Why the World No. 4 Would Be “Losing Her Mind” Facing This Viral Amateur—You Won’t Believe the Stats!

🏆 “Losing My Mind”: Jessica Pegula Weighs In on the Hajar Abdelkader Viral Disaster

The tennis world is rarely unified in its shock, but the recent events at an ITF W35 event in Nairobi have managed to do just that. The story of Hajar Abdelkader, a wildcard entry from Egypt who appeared to have almost no grasp of the basic mechanics of tennis, has gone viral globally. Now, American superstar Jessica Pegula has offered a candid, professional perspective on why this “match” was a nightmare for everyone involved.

The Stats That Shook the Tour

For those who missed the clips trending on TikTok and X, the match was a statistical anomaly. Abdelkader faced Germany’s Lorena Schaedel (ranked 1,026) and lost 6-0, 6-0 in a staggering 37 minutes. The numbers were horrifying:

• 20 double faults in just six service games.

• Only 3 points won the entire match (all off opponent errors).

• 8.3% first-serve percentage.

Footage showed Abdelkader struggling with her ball toss, failing to find the service box by several meters, and even needing the umpire to direct her on which side of the court to stand.

Pegula’s “Professional Nightmare”

In a recent interview, Jessica Pegula was asked about the viral sensation. Known for her level-headedness and analytical mind, Pegula didn’t hold back on how frustrating such a situation would be for a professional athlete.

“I think if I were her opponent, I would have been losing my mind,” Pegula admitted. “As a pro, you prepare for a certain rhythm, a certain level of competition. When you step out there and the person across the net can’t get a ball in play, it’s almost impossible to stay focused. It’s actually disrespectful to the work players put in to get to this level.”

Pegula highlighted the mental toll of playing a “non-match.” For players like Schaedel, who are fighting for every ranking point and every dollar of prize money, these matches offer no competitive value and risk throwing off their timing for the rest of the tournament.

The Wildcard Blunder: How Did This Happen?

The controversy has forced Tennis Kenya to issue a formal apology. They revealed that Abdelkader was a last-minute “filler” after another player withdrew. Since she was the only person on-site who had requested a wildcard and claimed to have “appropriate competitive experience,” they granted her the spot to keep the draw balanced.

However, the Egyptian Tennis Federation quickly distanced itself, stating that Abdelkader is not registered with them and has no official ranking or history in the country’s junior systems. This has sparked a fierce debate about the integrity of the wildcard system, with many calling for stricter minimum standards for entry into professional-level tournaments.

The Fallout: Welfare vs. Integrity

While the internet has been quick to mock Abdelkader, both the ITF and Tennis Kenya have reached out to her to offer support, citing concerns for her mental wellbeing following the intense global scrutiny.

Pegula echoed this sentiment, noting that while the situation was “unacceptable” for a pro tour, the player shouldn’t be the only one blamed. “It’s on the organizers to vet these entries,” she said. “You can’t just put someone out there to be embarrassed on a global stage. It’s bad for her, and it’s bad for the sport.”

As the Australian Open approaches, the “Abdelkader Incident” serves as a bizarre reminder of the gap between the amateur world and the elite levels of the WTA and ATP.