Tennis: Angella Okutoyi through to French Open second round

FILE: Angela Okutoyi training at The Nairobi Club  [Jonah Onyango, Standard] 

Kenyan tennis seed one Angella Okutoyi has once again made history after progressing to the second round of the JA Roland Garros (French Open Juniors).

The former Africa Under-18 champion is now the first Kenya to win a grand slam match at the French Open.

Okutoyi defeated 17-year-old Amelie Van Impe from Belgium 7-6, 6-4 in the round of 64 to progress to the second round on Sunday evening.

Ranked 66 in the world junior rankings, Okutoyi had to endure a tough match against the Belgian international whom she had to defeat after one hour and 43 minutes of sweat and strong serves.

After winning the first set through a tie break with the game tied at 6-6, the African tennis sensation saw off Van Impe 6-4 in the second set to progress.

Okutoyi will now face Croatian Petra Marčinko in the second round on Monday. Marcinko saw off Kayla Cross 6-1, 6-4 in the first round.

The 2021 Africa Under-18 champion trained in Italy after leaving Nairobi on May 3 where she has competed in two build-up tournaments.

Despite losing her last three build-up matches, Okutoyi is confident of surpassing her display at the Australian Open Junior Championships earlier this year.

Okutoyi made history in January this year at the Australian Open Junior Championships in Melbourne.

She defeated Italian qualifier Federica Urgesi in the first round to become the first Kenyan girl to record a Junior Grand Slam match-win.