Angela Okutoyi, Kenya’s top female tennis player, upped her growing worldwide reputation by winning four titles in a single week at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tour Nairobi W35.
The 21-year-old defeated Italian fourth seed Martina Colmegna in straight sets on Sunday to secure the second-leg singles title at the Parklands Sports Club.
The final will be a rematch between the two players, who also faced off in the tournament’s first-leg semifinals the week before, where Okutoyi won in two sets.
But this time, Okutoyi performed at a higher level, with a calm and dominant performance to complete a sweep in Nairobi.
After a fiercely contested start in which Colmegna remained competitive through the first three games, she seized the charge early and won the first set 6-3.
The Italian mounted a valiant comeback in the second set, which turned out to be more intense.
The two engaged in a high-calibre exchange. Okutoyi maintained her composure to equal the set at 5-5, forcing a tiebreak, just as Colmegna seemed ready to force a decider.
There, she won the straight-sets match 7-6 (6-3) with to her excellent serving and returns. In addition to her previous doubles victories in the tournament’s first and second legs, the triumph completed a double-title sweep in Nairobi.
Additionally, it was Okutoyi’s first consecutive singles championship, which she acknowledged as a very significant accomplishment.
“My first time winning back-to-back means a lot to me. I want to congratulate my opponent. Playing you has been challenging, but I know you have a bright future ahead, and I wish you the best,” she said.
Her recent participation as one of the recipients of the Olympic Solidarity scholarships given out by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) has contributed to the Wimbledon junior doubles champion’s remarkable performance throughout the Nairobi series.
She is now enrolled in the NOC-K Individual Athlete Scholarship Program for the second time, which strengthens her readiness for the international arena.
After finishing just outside of the world’s top 400 in the Paris Olympics, Okutoyi is now concentrating on gaining momentum for the 2028 Olympic Games.
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