Okutoyi continues blazing run as Kennedy causes massive upset to make Kenya Open semis

19-year-old tennis sensation Angella Okutoyi moved one step closer to defending her Kenya Open tennis championship title after beating sixth seeded Stacy Yego in straight sets on Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the 2023 tournament.

Having quickly brushed aside Emaan Amin in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, Okutoyi, who is the top seed in the competition making its return to the country after a four-year absence, was once again in a class of her own as she recorded a comfortable victory, bageling her way to the last 4 with the 6-0, 6-0 win on Court 7 to set up a semifinal clash against Alicia Owegi (5) on Friday.

“I was scared but also happy to be playing against Angie. Although we have practiced together a lot of times, this was the first time I was facing her and I learnt a lot from her especially with the way she was just focused all through and just wanted to win.

The key takeaway for me will be improving on my aggression when I play against such an opponent,” Yego said after the match.

Owegi, who played together with Okutoyi in the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup, booked her spot in the semis with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Tanzania’s Ester Nankulange.

The other semifinal pairing will see second seeded Roselida Asumwa face off with third seeded Shana Mao from Tanzania.

Asumwa beat Katarina Karanja (7) 6-1, 6-3 while Mao beat Kenya’s Faith Urasa 6-1, 6-2 to remain the only foreigner standing in the women’s Singles.

In the men’s category, first and second second seeded Albert Njogu and Kael Shah confirmed their spots in the last four but the same could not be said for third seeded Keean Shah who suffered an upset at the hands of Kennedy Ngolya (11) who came from a set down to produce a thrilling three set win.

While Njogu beat Kazungu Karema 6-2, 6-1 as Kael took care of Kevin Cheruiyot with a 6-2, 6-2 win, Keean found the tide turning against him on his way to being ousted from the tournament in a three set epic.

After losing the first set 6-3, Ngolya, who was a bag of tricks forced the game into a deciding set when he took the second set 2-6.

It was the third set that brought the best out of the two players as Keean showed impeccable defensive nous to fend off the immaculate serving and mixed brilliance of Ngolya who produced eye catching plays.

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After a long back and forth, Ngolya had the chance to close out the match at 4-5 but Keean was not letting as he finally took the fourth break point to restore parity at 5-5.

All his hard work was however undone immediately after as Ngolya broke back and didn’t fluff his lines at another time of asking as he advanced to the semis with a 6-3, 2-6, 5-7 victory.

“The game was certainly tough but I am just glad in how I managed to stay in the match even after losing the first set. All the flair I showed today is because I believe that this sport should also be about fun and I thoroughly enjoyed playing out there,” the eleventh seed said.

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The result means Ngolya will face Njogu in the semis with Kael taking on Rwanda Erneste Habiyambere in the other clash.

Habiyambere beat Raymond Oduor 7-6, 7-5 to make the semis in a tightly contested match.

In the men’s wheelchair singles, Kenya’s Rajab Abdalla booked his spot in the final after beating Tanzania’s Jumanne Nasoro 6-2, 6-4.

He is set to fight for the title against Tanzania’s Peter Isaya who beat compatriot Albert John 7-6, 6-1.

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In the women’s category, first seeded Jane Ndenga confirmed her place in the final with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Pendo James from Tanzania.

She will face off in the final with Phoebe Masika who beat Selemani Saidi (Tanzania) 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.

All the results can be found here