Angella Okutoyi braces for second Grand Slam at Roland Garros

Kenya’s tennis prodigy Angella Okutoyi says she is ready for the upcoming 2022 Roland Garros Junior Championship set to serve off from 29 May to 4 June in the French capital of Paris.

Over the last couple of weeks, the 18-year-old teenager has been a beneficiary of training camps organized by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in a bid to get the players ready for the tournament in the City of Light.

Due to that programme, the 2021 African U18 champion has taken part in two build up tournaments before the Championship but has unfortunately exited both in the first round.

Okutoyi sets her sights on French Open semis

In Santa Croce Sull’Arno, a J1 level event, Okutoyi lost 6-4, 7-5 to Aruzhan Sagandikova (Kazakhstan) before being overpowered 6-1, 6-2 by Great Britain’s Ranah Akua Stoiber at the JA Milan tournament.

However, despite the early exits, Okutoyi expressed her confidence in the training she has received as she braces for what will be her second major tournament after her historic appearance at the Australian Open Junior Championship where she became the first Kenyan woman to play at the tournament and to ahead and win a match.

“I have been training with the Grand Slam Player Development Programme (GSPDP) team here in Milan and I am satisfied with the preparations. I am excited heading to France on Friday for the Roland Garros Junior Championships,” the player is quoted on the Nation.

In an earlier interview, an optimistic Okutoyi had earlier set a high target of reaching the semifinals or even going all the way in clinching the title in Paris.

“My expectations for the French Open is to make it to the semis and if possible even win a Grand Slam,” she said.

Okutoyi however heads into the competition on the back of three straight losses that include a semifinal defeat at the 2022 Africa U18 Championship which saw her fail to defend her crown after succumbing to a 3-6, 5-7 defeat against South Africa’s Leigh Van Zyl.

Having been knocked out in the third round at the Australian open, Okutoyi will be hoping to draw on those lessons from down under as she takes the courts in Paris. Fortunately, Okutoyi, who is currently ranked in position 66, is assured of a place in the main draw when the tournament gets underway.

Angella Okutoyi – Tennis barrier breaker who rose from a children's orphanage to the Grand Slam