Angella Okutoyi, a 19-year-old tennis player from Kenya, has made history by becoming the first Kenyan to reach a W25 final. She achieved this feat by defeating Lucie Nguyen Tan of France in straight sets, with a score of 6-4, 6-4. Okutoyi’s victory has earned her a place in the championship decider of the W25 International Tennis Federation tournament, which is currently taking place at the Nairobi Club. This achievement is particularly significant as it is on home soil.

After her semifinal win, Okutoyi expressed her happiness and stated that she had worked hard for this moment. She believed in herself and felt that she belonged in the game. Okutoyi acknowledged her opponent as a strong competitor and emphasized her focus on taking one point at a time. She also mentioned that she had initially struggled with the surface but practiced extensively to improve her performance.

In the match against Lucie Nguyen Tan, Okutoyi started strong by breaking her opponent’s serve in the opening game. She maintained her lead and eventually won the first set 6-4. In the second set, Okutoyi faced some challenges but managed to save break points before securing a 6-4, 6-4 victory. The significance of the moment was not lost on Okutoyi, who stated that she wants to be an inspiration for young children and show them that anything is possible.

In the Singles final, Okutoyi will face Lena Papadakis from Germany, who defeated Fanny Ostlund of Sweden in the semifinals. If Okutoyi wins the final, she will receive a prize money of $25,000. Additionally, she has also qualified for the doubles finals along with her partner Sada Nahimana from Burundi. In the doubles final, they will compete against Lena Papadakis and Jessie Aney from Germany and the United States, respectively.

Overall, Okutoyi’s breakthrough to the W25 final is a momentous achievement for Kenyan tennis, and she has the opportunity to further make history by winning both the singles and doubles titles.