Angela Okutoyi is the favorite to win the finals of the W35 Women’s World Tour after the teen sensation powered her way into the finals. Fireworks is expected in Nairobi as she renews rivalry with Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland.
Talented tennis prodigy Angella Okutoyi Chineses Taipei’s Joanna Garland in the singles final of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W35 Women’s World Tour at the Nairobi Club on January 12.
The pair will be meeting for the second time in a fortnight. Okutoyi, the African Games champion, will look to get a double over the top seed Garland after defeating her in the first week of the tournament.
Kenya’s tennis sensation Angela Okutoyi has set her sights on clinching the title at the ongoing W35 World Tennis Tour tournament in Nairobi.
The duo had to sweat to secure their berth in the January 12 final, being forced to dig deeper by their respective opponents.
Okutoyi, who became the first Kenyan to win a Grand Slam title at the girls’ juniors Wimbledon event, partnering Rose Marie Nijkamp, made light work of Poland’s Zuzanna Pawlikoska 7-6(1) 3-6 6-3 in a January 11 glory as Garland swatted aside Belgium’s Vicky Van De Peer 6-7(2) 6-4 6-1 at the same venue.
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Angella Okutoyi is set to learn whether she will feature at Paris Olympics following an appeal by Tennis Kenya early this month.
The final is expected to be played at the same venue in what promises to be a do-or-die assignment.
In the 2023 African Games, Okutoyi claimed the gold medal after defeating Lamis Alhussein Abdel Aziz in the final. Earlier in the semis, she upset the top seed world No.70, Mayar Sherif. She then partnered with Cynthia Cheruto Wanjala to win silver in the doubles final after losing to Sandra Samir and Merna Refaat.
Okutoyi became only the second Kenyan player to win gold at the African games after Jane Davies-Doxzon achieved the feat in 1978.
