Ibrahim Kibet and Angela Okutoyi trounced Changawa siblings Ismail and Shufaa in men and women respectively to win this year’s Kenya Open Tennis Championships at Nairobi Club today.
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Twenty two year old Kibet won the men’s title after trouncing Kenyan top seed three time national champion Ismail Changawa
In one hour 45 minutes, Kibet won in 7-5, 6-4 for his maiden major victory in the thrilling final
Kibet came from behind 2-4 to level at 5-5 before cracking his strong volleys and net drops to take the first set 7-5.
At 24 years, young Okutoyi won the women’s title after defeating Shufaa Changawa by punishing experienced three time former champion Changawa with well executed strokes for straight sets victory of 6-1, 7-6 at the Nairobi Club.
Okutoyi followed up her ITF Under-18 and Africa Under-14 victories with her maiden senior major as Shufaa failed in her bid for the fourth title.
In the one-and-half hours, Okutoyi beat top seed Shufaa. the 2011, 2014 and 2016 champion, battled in vain in her efforts to force a third set.
Okutoyi, who became the youngest ever Kenya Open champion after Sada Nahimana in 2015, hopes that her victory will inspire other upcoming players to aim higher. Sada was also 14 when she won.
Additional Information Daily Nation