Angela Okutoyi launches Australian Open debut with a win

Anjela Okutoyi return ball during the ITF World Tennis Tour U18 Championships at Nairobi Club on Wed Jan 30, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya tennis sensation Angela Okutoyi has made a dream debut at the Australian Junior Open Championship after serving off to victory in the main draw of the Girls Singles.

Today, the African U18 champion floored Federica Urgesi of Italy 2-1 at Melbourne Park to sail through to the second round.

Okutoyi who is the second Kenyan to play in the Australian Open after Paul Wekesa was off to a flying start as she bagged the first set 6-4 before surrendering in the subsequent one that ended 7-6 in favour of the Italian.

She proceeded to sweep Urgesi 6-3 in the final set to emerge victorious in a match that lasted two hours thirteen minutes.

pic.twitter.com/foUw5taFrK — Ministry Of Sports, Culture & Heritage (@moscakenya) January 23, 2022

Okutoyi will now face off against Zara Larke of Australia.

The Australian knocked out seventh-seeded Johanne Svendsen (14) from Sweden 6-4, 6-1 in the first round.

The Australian Open Junior Championships is back in 2022 after the 2021 edition was cancelled due to the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions into Australia.

The last event in 2020 saw Andorra’s Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva and France's Harold Mayot crowned champions.