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Angella Okutoyi: Tennis star defying all odds

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 Kenyan tennis star Angella Okutoyi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

At 18, rising tennis star Angella Okutoyi is a household name. An unlikely one for that matter. She is a role model and the envy of thousands of young people. Indeed, she is the ultimate celeb.

When Angella arrives at The Standard Group HQ for her interview, her hair is braided in multi-coloured braids. She charms, bright like the morning star.

Coupled with her deep brown skin, fit appearance, and now, the hairdo - one cannot help but compare her to one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Serena Williams.

And yes, Serena is on her mind and winning in her thoughts.

"I want to be a professional player, win as many grand slams as I can, I want to have a good ranking and hopefully be world number one someday," says Angella.

In her younger days, Serena was often seen on the court in braids, sometimes coloured ones, other times beaded ones.

But it is not just their similar hairdos on this Wednesday morning. It is a fact that Angella has already begun to chart her path to professional tennis.

It is only four months since she made history when she became the first Kenyan to win a Grand Slam title at the girls' juniors Wimbledon Championships event. She partnered up with Dutch player Rose Marie Nijkamp for the doubles win.

The athlete notes that with the support of their coaches, the two set out to enjoy the game, first and foremost.

"Lucky enough I had the ITF (International Tennis Federation) coach - and our coaches - mine and hers, were telling us to enjoy the moment. That is how we kept our nerves down, and I believe, in every double, once you enjoy it you will have a great time."

This happened barely a few months after she became the first representative of Kenya to win a girls' junior singles Grand Slam match at the Australian Open.

"I started playing tennis at the age of four years. My family is a family of tennis, I was introduced to tennis at that age by my uncle Allan Atola and also Joe Karani, one of the coaches at the tennis programme that I was introduced to," she says.

Hers is a story of determination and following through with one's passion no matter the circumstance.

Angella's upbringing was humble, and she has had to beat the odds to get where she is. She and her twin were orphaned when their mother died during childbirth, and life has had its challenges since then.

"I grew up with my grandmother, twin sister, an aunt and uncle. That has always been our family. It was not easy because when I was young, I took care of one of my aunts who passed away - she had lung cancer," she says.

"It was very hard on our grandmother, who stood up as our mother, father and our all until now. We are grateful for all the things she has done so far."

The teen says that she has always been grateful for her family, whom she considers her support system.

"It is something special to have someone like your family being there for you, supporting you and understanding what you are going through."

Speaking about her mental health and how she takes care of herself being involved in such a high-pressure sporting environment, Angella puts focus at the centre of her work.

"In tennis before your match, you have to write your game plan. So I usually have my book, I write my goals for the match to prepare myself mentally and physically," she says.

"I find it is a routine that calms me down. In tennis we also have breathing routines, they keep you stable and calm."

 Angella Okutoyi training at Karen Country Club in Nairobi on Aug 17, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Looking back at her childhood, Angella's memories of Kenya are blurry. She was only 10 years old when she secured a scholarship to Burundi where she would join an International Tennis Federation programme.

Perhaps that would explain why she speaks with a bit of a French accent, although the young athlete says that she is fluent in Swahili too.

Angella says that the support from the local tennis federation has been good, noting that those around her always pushed her to greatness.

She confirms that she will be joining Auburn University, Alabama, in the Spring of 2023, having already accepted a scholarship offer from the institution.

The tennis player says that she picked the school from a wide list of scholarship offers - indeed, many institutions had noted her promising talent and determination.

"I had help from my coach Francis Rogoi and also the federation, I had 30 college scholarship offers. I shortened the list to five. When I was in the US Open Tournament, I got the chance to visit four schools," she says.

"I wanted a college that will align with my goals so that I can continue with my tennis career. The school I chose, Auburn, was aligning with that; and there are many aspiring professional players there, so I know that I will have a driven and supportive team around me."

She says tennis is a sport that anyone can learn, encouraging youth to take it up and explore their skills.

"I can tell young people that tennis is for all, it does not matter if you have money or you do not, just come and try it."

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