Angella Okutoyi: Kenyan Tennis Prodigy Beats Mayer Sherif to Secure Final Berth at African Games

• Angella Okutoyi has secured her place in the African Games final
• The Kenyan tennis prodigy beat Egyptian Mayer Sherif 5-7, 7-5, 7-6
• She will now face Lamis Elhussein Abdelaziz in the final on Thursday

Kenya's rising tennis star, Angella Okutoyi, on Wednesday, March 20, qualified for the African Games women's singles final for the very first time.

In a gripping semifinal clash, which lasted 4 hours and 27 minutes, Okutoyi triumphed over Egypt's reigning singles champion, Mayer Sherif.

The 20-year-old showcased her mettle at the Borteyman Sports Complex as she overcame Sherif in a nail-biting encounter, sealing victory with a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 scoreline.

Ranked fourth in the country and boasting 532 points in the latest WTA singles ranking, Okutoyi weathered an early setback, dropping the first set 5-7 to Sherif, who is currently ranked 70th globally. The Kenyan, however, mounted a spirited comeback, clinching the subsequent sets 7-5 and 7-6, as reported by Citizen Digital.

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Despite a promising start in the first set, Okutoyi faced adversity, trailing 2-5 before rallying to claim victory with a 7-5 win in the second set. The third set witnessed a fierce battle of wills, with Okutoyi falling behind 0-3.

However, she rallied to level the score at 3-3 before sprinting to a 5-4 lead. Yet, Sherif mounted a spirited fightback, equalizing the score at 5-5. The tension escalated as both players traded blows, with Okutoyi ultimately forcing a tiebreaker, which she dominated to secure her spot in the final.

Next in line for the 2022 Wimbledon Open doubles juniors champion is another Egyptian, Lamis Elhussein Abdelaziz, in an eagerly anticipated showdown scheduled for Thursday, March 21, as reported by The Star.

Prior to her epic semifinal clash, Okutoyi showcased her prowess by dispatching opponents in earlier rounds, including Zambian Naomi Chileshe, Merna Rafaat of Egypt, and Aya El Aouni of Morocco.

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Okutoyi makes history with Doubles triumph

Sports Brief reported that Okutoyi engraved her name in Kenyan tennis history on Saturday, December 23, 2023, after becoming the first player to secure both singles and doubles titles in an ITF W25 event.

She partnered Sada Nahimana to clinch the doubles crown, overcoming Jessie Aney and Lena Papadakis 6-4, 3-6 (10-7).

The Kenyan added the singles title to her accolades the following day, defeating Germany's Papadakis 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.