BJK Cup 2023 Live: Kenya stun Morocco to get crucial win over the line

What a stunner! The second last seeded Kenya upset the apple cart as they beat top seeds Morocco 2-1 to get their first win of the tournament.

And she does it. The little girl from Mbagathi Road Secondary Schools keeps her nerve to hand Kenya the match 6-4, 7-5.

Kenya strikes in the eleventh game as the Okutoyi, Wanjala partenership gets a crucial 6-5 break. Wanjala set to serve for the match.

Both teams hold onto their serves to make it 5-5.

A hold of serve sees the Kenyans roar back into the tie at 4-4.

Both teams hold their serve in the fifth ad sixth games before Kenya get their way back into the tie as they break back to make it 3-4.

Kenya finally register their first score on the board after holding serve in the fourth game to make it 3-1.

The away side use the first of their three break points to take a 0-2 lead. Some intent from the Moroccans here who need to win this set to force a deciding third set.

Morocco get the perfect start this time to lead 0-1. Kenya to serve.

Set 2 to come.

Team Kenya get a crucial break and holds onto it to take the first set 6-4 against their opponents.

Kenya will be represented by Okutoyi and Cynthia Wanjala in the Doubles.

Having won the opening set 7-5 and the second 6-3, Okutoyi forces the tie into a deciding Doubles as the two teams are now tied 1-1.

Set 2

Crowd cheers on Okutoyi as she comes out for the game and she responds by breaking for a third time to take the second set 6-3.

Once again the players hold serve to get the game at 5-3.

After both players hold serve at 2-2, Okutoyi strikes again to take the lead that she comfortably keeps at 4-2.

Allami with the perfect response as she immediately gets the breaka back to tie the game 1-1.

Okutoyi gets the perfect start to the match as she gets an early break.

Set 1

And she does it! Okutoyi shakes off the little nerves and comfortably takes the first set 7-5 for Kenya.

Both players hold for 5-5 but Okutoyi breaks again to go 6-5 ahead. The Kenyan ace serving for the first set.

After holding serve, Okutoyi brilliantly uses her third break point to draw back level at 4-4. What a terrific game that was. Allami stayed solid all through to fend off her opponent but Okutoyi, backed by the loud fans, determinedly got over the line.

Just like the first set, Morocco get the break as Allami strikes first to take an early 4-2 lead.

Angella Okutoyi

Perfect start to the game as both players hold their serve in the opening four games for a 2-2 score.

Game 2 sees Kenya's top seed Angella Okutoyi seek redemption for Kenya as she takes on Mallak El Allami.

Morocco take the first game against Kenya as Eya El Aouni beats Alicia Owegi 6-3, 6-0 to hand her side the advantage

Game 1 Result

An imperious Aouni makes her dominance count as she breaks two more times to take the second set 6-0

Aouni with the perfect start to the game as she breaks early and holds serve for a 2-0 lead.

Set 2

She consolidates her lead by holding serve for a 5-2 lead. Both players then hold their own but Morocco get the driving seat in the tie as Aouni takes the first set 6-3.

Morocco get the first break after a competitive opening five games. Aouni breaks to take a 4-2 lead.

Set 1

Game 1 - Alicia Owegi bt Aya El Aouni

Morocco will be represented by Yasmine Kabbaj, Malak El Allami, Aya El Aouni, Manal Ennaciri, and Mehdi Ait Barhouch(Captain).

Kenya's quartet will be led by 2022 Wimbledon Girls' Doubles champion Angella Okutoyi, her twin sister Roselida Asumwa, Alicia Owegi, Cynthia Wanjala, and coach Francis Rogoi.

Hosts Kenya get their campaign underway with a tough opener against top seeds Morocco on Centre Court.

Pool A – Morocco, Botswana, Nigeria, Namibia, Uganda, Kenya

Pool B – Tunisia, Ghana, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Seychelles

12 teams will be competing for the single ticket available to the Euro/Africa Group II competition next year with the last team unfortunately suffering relegation to Group IV and are pooled as above.

Welcome to the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group III tournament being hosted at the Nairobi Club in Kenya.