Okutoyi eyes great outing in Australia

The 2021 Africa Junior Champion Angella Okutoyi landed safely in Melbourne ahead of her competition in the junior category at the prestigious Australian Open Grand Slam Tournament slated for 22nd-29th January 2022.

The 17 year old who was recently ranked 60th on 3rd January 2022, will also take part in the J1 Traralgon event in the same country from January 14-19 as she eyes to advance to top 30 place.

“I have practised for two weeks after breaking for Christmas. My preparations have been good. I have been training on the hard courts more because that is the surface we will use in Australia,”

“I’ve realized that, the level I am in doesn’t allow my mindset to think like a junior, I play with parents, experienced players and that means I have to put double the effort for my hard work to bear fruits. I’m aiming for a top 30 bracket and I believe I’ll achieve it” she further added.

The Kenyan tennis sensation rested on Saturday having finalized her preparations at Phillip Ilako’s residence, a Kenyan former Tennis star, top seeded in 1984 and 2017 Kenya Davies Captain.

She is among 46 players enlisted for the main draw in the girls’ category. This will be her first Australian Open Junior Championship.

In November last year, Okutoyi was crowned the 2021 Africa Junior Under-18 champion after sweeping aside top seed Aya El Aouni (126) of Morocco 6-3, 6-3 to be crowned champion in the finals played in Sousse, Tunisia.

Her last competition was the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour in Monastir, Tunisia on December 6.

She is ranked 142nd on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Rankings and seeded second in Africa having rose 59 places in January last year after winning two J4 Nairobi tournaments at the Nairobi Club.

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