PHOTOS: Angela Okutoyi lands at JKIA- receives rousing welcome
Tennis
By
Odero Charles
| Jul 12, 2022
Tennis sensation Angela Okutoyi on Monday night arrived in the country after she made history on Saturday afternoon, becoming the first Kenyan to win a Grand Slam title at the girls’ juniors Wimbledon event, where she partnered with Dutch Rose Marie Nijkamp.
Okutoyi was greeted with live music and energetic Utamaduni dancers upon her arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
She also received a similar welcome from Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, NOCK secretary-general Francis Mutuku, dignitaries and several members of the tennis fraternity.
The 18-year-old, who is a member of the Grand Slam Player Development Programme/ITF Touring Team, and Nijkamp, defeated Canadian pair of Victoria Mboko and Kayla Cross 3-6 4-6 (11-9) in the final of Wimbledon Open doubles Junior Championships at the grass courts of All England Lawn Tennis Club.
The duo started the final on the back foot after losing the first set 6-3 to the Canadians.
They recovered in the second set, winning it 6-4. The Kenya seed one and the Dutch then sealed victory with an 11-9 triumph in the tiebreaker against the fourth-seeded Canadians.
Okutoyi now turns her focus to the US Open Junior Tennis Championships.
The US Open Junior Tennis Championships are scheduled for August 29 to September 11, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre.
Okutoyi now surpasses history made by two other Kenyans who have competed at Wimbledon; Christian Vitulli and Paul Wekesa.
Vitulli reached boys’ doubles quarterfinals in 2006, while Wekesa was eliminated in men’s singles first round in 1996.