S. OchiengTennis sensation Angella Okutoyi lands full time varsity scholarship in the US
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 10.10.22. | 17:49
The 18-year old had received over thirty opportunities after an impressive 2022 that saw her clinch a historic Wimbledon Girls Doubles title.
Kenya’s tennis history maker Angella Okutoyi, 18, has received a massive boost in the pursuit of her professional career as she is set to join the Auburn University in Alabama, United States of America on a full time scholarship starting from January 2023, Mozzart Sport can confirm.
The talented youngster, who back in July this year became the first ever Kenyan to lift a Grand Slam title when she hoisted the 2022 Wimbledon Girls trophy alongside Netherland’s Rose Marie Nijkamp, had received over thirty different scholarship opportunities but settled on Auburn University after a rigorous narrowing down with the aid of family and her coach Francis Rogoi.
Bringing an international phenom to the Plains.
— Auburn Women's Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) October 10, 2022
We're excited to announce that @Okutoyiangella2 is joining the squad this spring!#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/Yern995FyI
Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Okutoyi, who remains to be the youngest ever player to win the Kenya Open, revealed that a number of factors had convinced her into joining Auburn where she believes will give her the ideal chance to reach her full potential.
“It was a really difficult process because I had over thirty applications from various schools. I could not even reply to all of them at some point. But I settled on Auburn first because it sat right with me and the various reviews I got when I visited them was very good. Facilities were not even an issue because they have the very best of them,” she told Mozzart Sport.
Super excited to announce that i will be continuing my tennis career and education at Auburn University ! Thanks to my family, coaches , friends and everyone who helped me along the way! #wareagle🦅 pic.twitter.com/8EJRrHHOHF
— Angella Okutoyi (@Okutoyiangella2) October 10, 2022
Additionally, Okutoyi, who is transitioning into full time tennis after playing in all four Junior Grand Slam tournaments at the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open, expressed her delight at the opportunity saying it will elevate her quest to make a breakthrough in the senior women’s game.
She revealed that the university will also be paying for her participation in some futures tournaments. Futures tournaments allow for players to win career titles and improve their rankings.
“This opportunity will help my tennis for sure because now I will be able to have the best facilities compared to here in Nairobi. I will have two coaches, a physio and a lot of other things I will be getting when I am in that school (Auburn) and that will help me a lot.
If with the limited things I had here in I still managed to make it out there, now imagine with all the things I will get there. I can do better for sure. The college will also pay for some futures tournaments for me and the team so I will try to strengthen my Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings,” she added.
Okutoyi is expected to play at two W15 International Tennis Federation tournaments going to take place in Nairobi in November in front of her home fans before she closes her 2022 season ahead of her departure.
