All-Africa Games tennis champion Angela Okutoyi will defend her title during the Kenya Open, planned for August 5-11
Okutoyi, who has been playing in the Collegiate tennis circuit in the United States for her college side, Auburn University, for the better part of the year, will be up against the likes of her sister Rosehilda Asumwa, Alicia Owegi, Melissa Mwakha, Stacy Yego and Cynthia Wanjala.
There will also be top players from Europe and Asia for the week-long event, starting with the qualifying rounds a week before the tournament.
Okutoyi said she is in good shape and is relishing the battle as she chases a third consecutive title and fourth overall crown.
” I'm in good shape and I am looking forward to returning home for the tournament and to winning my third title. It won't be easy because the level of competition is getting better, and I will have to be at my best to win,” added Okutoyi.
She has adjusted her preparation to the various playing surfaces, including grass, hard court and clay court.
“ I have adapted well to playing on all surfaces and with the help of my coaches at Auburn, I am progressing well,” she observed.
Currently ranked 468 in the world, Okutoyi hopes to be in the top 400 by the end of the year.
“My target for this year is to move up the rankings, and I was looking to play in some of the tournaments in Europe and Africa during the holiday period after completion of my semester in June, and I believe the Kenya Open will be ideal."
Tennis Kenya (TK) executive director, Nancy Nduku, said they have started speaking to sponsors for the championship as well as preparations for the biggest tennis tournament in the country.
“ We have the next three months to source funding and sponsorship and invite some of the top tennis talents in the world for the tournament," observed Nduku.
