Flying Okutoyi wins inaugural W25 Doubles title
22nd December 2023
The Kenyan tennis ace formed a winning partnership with Burundi's Sada Nahimana.
- The East African duo of Okutoyi and Nahimana emerged victorious in the Doubles final against Jessie Aney (USA) and Lena Papadakis (Germany).
- They clinched the title after a 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 victory at the Nairobi Club on Friday afternoon.
- It was Okutoyi's first-ever W25 Doubles win after two previous losses in the finals.
On the day that she became Kenya’s first ever player to make it to the Singles final of a W25 event, 19-year-old tennis ace Angella Okutoyi enjoyed another milestone as she lifted her inaugural W25 Doubles title after forging a winning partnership with Burundi’s Sada Nahimana.
In the second ever W25 International Tennis Federation tournament to be played on Kenyan soil, the East African duo of Okutoyi and Nahimana showed character in clinching the title after seeing off Jessie Aney (USA) and Lena Papadakis (Germany) 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 at the Nairobi Club on Friday afternoon.
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Despite playing together for the very first time in a Doubles event, the two overcame every obstacle on their way to bagging the overall crown.
"I am feeling great and happy because I have played two W25 Doubles finals before but I have never been able to get the gold, so getting it here is a special thing.
Partnering with Sada is incredible because she is a good African tennis player and I really enjoyed playing with her,” Okutoyi told SportPesa News after her win.
It is always tough when you lose in Singles earlier but honestly this win is good. For me to play with Angella in front of the crowd was amazing and I really enjoyed it,” Nahimana remarked.
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Both teams started the match confidently as they managed to hold onto their serves in the opening eight games.
Okutoyi and Nahimana however pounced at the opportune moment as they used the first of two break points to take a 5-4 lead before taking the first set 6-4.
In the second set, Papadakis and Jessie took an early 0-3 lead after breaking in the second game and hung onto the advantage as they forced a deciding tie breaker after winning the second set 3-6.
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Okutoyi and Nahimana managed to keep their composure as they won 10-7 to be crowned champions.
With the win, Okutoyi could be in line to lift two titles as she is also in the Singles final where she will face Papadakis in the championship decider.
Okutoyi secured her spot in the finale after beating France’s Lucie Nguyen Tan in a straight set 6-4, 6-4 victory.
ALSO READ: Okutoyi makes history after progressing to first-ever W25 career final