Wimbledon doubles junior champion Angela Octopi will now focus her attention on the doubles competition at the US Junior Open after losing in the singles second round on Monday night.
The teen sensation lost to eighth seed Taylah Preston of Australia 6-2 7-6(7-4) 6-1 to bow out of the singles category at Flushing Meadow in New York.
The country's youngest Kenya Open champion had started on a sound note on Sunday, winning the first round clash against Germany's Carolina Kuhl 7-7 (7-4) 7-5.
Okutoyi will team up with the Netherlands’ Rose Marie Nijkamp and will face the pair of Qavia Lopez (USA) and Johanne Christine (Denmark) in the first round.
Okutoyi and Nijkamp played together at Wimbledon going on to win the doubles category in July.
"We have good chemistry together and the experience of playing at Wimbledon will be vital for this grand slam,” said Okutoyi.
Okutoyi said she was happy with her performance despite bowing out in the singles.
“I fought hard in both singles matches and it did not go according to plan but I still have an opportunity to do well in the doubles category and hopefully, go on a good run,” added Okutoyi.
Okutoyi came to the Big Apple on the back of winning the doubles category at the J1 tournament in Repentigny alongside Malina Rowinska of Poland, beating fourth seeds German Ella Seidel and Belgian Amelia Waligora 3-6 6-2 10-8.
Okutoyi said winning the doubles category in Canada will be key in her quest to perform well at the US Junior Open.
"The win in Canada was a big boost. Most of the players we faced there will be at the US Open so it gives me a lot of motivation,” said Okutoyi.
The African junior champion said she has adapted to the warm condition in the United States.
"It's quite different from the weather in Kenya but I am now used to it and looking forward to the rest of the week," she observed.
Okutoyi has had a roller coaster of a year on the grand slam circuit.
In Australia, Okutoyi made history after she defeated Italian Federica Urgesi 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3 and Australian Zara Larke 7-6 5-7 6-1 in the first two rounds before Serbian Lola Radivojevic stopped her in the third, 6-2 6-3 on the hard courts.
By doing so, she became the first Kenyan girl to win a Grand Slam match and reach the third round.
