Kenya floor Namibia 3-0 to top Pool A
Tennis
By
Ochieng Oyugi
| Jun 16, 2023
Easy but sure. That seems to have been Kenya's motto in this year's Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group III tennis tournament. Yes, there have been close matches, but there have also been easy rides for some of the Kenyans.
Picking up from where they left on Wednesday, Kenya triumphed on Day Four at the Nairobi Club, yesterday, dismissing Namibia 3-0 to top a tough Pool A.
Wimbledon junior doubles champion Angella Okutoyi was in her stupendous element as she took the least time possible on court to dispatch Theron Liniques of Namibia with straight sets of 6-1, 6-0.
Cynthia Cheruto also overcame some fatigue to beat Yssel Lisa Lia of Namibia 6-4,6-2.
In the doubles, Mellisa Mwakha, who teamed up with Okutoyi's sister Roselida Asumwa, dismissed Namibian duo of Bezuidenhout Joanivia and Leandre Nabia 6-1, 6-3.
This is the fourth match Kenya won in the tournament. Kenya overcame Morocco 2-1 on Monday, Botswana 3-0 on Tuesday, before dismissing Uganda 3-0 on Wednesday.
Kenya has been playing a see-saw affair with Nigeria over who tops the Pool A, which has been dubbed the group of death.
Yesterday, Morocco paved way for Kenya to top the group after wrestling Nigeria 2-0 by the time of going to press.
Concerning her victory over Lia of Namibia, Cheruto said: "I was not feeling well today. My body was aching all over, it's like I'm a burnt out after those three successful days."
"When the match started, I was low in spirit. I thought I was going to lose in the first set, but thanks to the passionate Kenyan fans, they motivated me to carry on in the game."
"Their support gave me energy, without which, I could have definitely switched off."
Cheruto said she was going to seek the services of a physio to prepare her muscles ahead of the tough tie against Nigeria today.
This is a clash that will confirm whether Kenya is firmly in control of the group, or not.
Just like Cheruto, Okutoyi admitted she felt a bit of an uphill task at the start of her clash with Liniques, but added more energy in her subsequent serves to switch off the Namibian from the game.
"I felt like the match was tough at the beginning, but this is because I was not putting in the needed effort to hold on to my opening serve. Nonetheless, I'm feeling happy that I was able to get a win for the team," said Okutoyi.
Since Okutoyi knew her first serve was not okay, she did a lot of work in the follow ups.
This eventually opened up the game, especially from her opponent's back end, which was the weaker spot from the Namibian.
"I closed on her front side and it worked like magic," said Okutoyi.
Against Nigeria today, Okutoyi advises her teammates to take the game with the seriousness it deserves, because whoever emerges victorious, will proceed for the play-offs.
"I'll try to keep up with my momentum," said Okutoyi.