Sensational Okutoyi bags first ever ITF Singles title with victory in Tunisia

Kenya's tennis sensation Angella Okutoyi bagged another piece of memorable silverware to her growing trophy cabinet.

This, as she defeated Isabella Harvison from USA in a straight sets victory in the final of the W15 Monastir tournament played in Tunisia to clinch her first International Tennis Federation (ITF) Singles title.

Coming into the championship decider after slaying bigwigs on her path, the 2022 Wimbledon Girls' Doubles champion got the job done with a 6-2, 7-6(2) victory in the tournament that saw her entered as a wild card.

In the semis, the 19-year-old had put up a spirited fight against India’s 24-year-old Zeel Desai, who has a career-high singles ranking of 549 by the WTA, achieved on 19 September 2022, to win the match by straight sets of 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) to book her final berth.

To reach to the semis, the unseeded Okutoyi had fought her way in the quarters with a 6-4, 6-0 straight sets victory over the top seed Yasmin Mansouri in Thursday’s round of 16 before seeing off Italian Anastasia Abbagnato, the tournament’s fifth seed, in three sets of 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 on Friday afternoon's quarter-finals matchup.

Zimbabwe overpower Kenya Chipu for fifth place in U20 Trophy

Harvison was also on fire in the other semis beating Alexandra Iordache 6-3, 6-4 promising an exciting final against the Kenyan star but Okutoyi just had too much for the American.

Tunisia proved to be a successful outing for the Kenyan youngster as, together with her French partner Beverly Nyangom, the duo was crowned champions of the ITF Monastir W15 Women’s Doubles played last week.

Okutoyi and Nyangom edged out their opponents - Gaia Parravicini and Samira De Stefano 6-4, 3-6 (10-2) in the final matchup on Saturday afternoon.