Kenyan top tennis player Angela Okutoyi advanced into the second round of the ongoing International Tennis Federation (ITF) Women’s World Tennis Tour at Peponi School.
The 15-year-old stunned Demi Tran (19) from the Netherlands in straight sets to reach the second round
Tran ranked 802 in the world lost 7-5, 6-1 courtesy Okutoyi as compatriot Fatiya Sharrif fell on the way when she lost to Brazil’s Mariana Borges 6-1, 6-0 in her first round clash.
Okutoyi will now face eighth-seeded Sada Nahimana from Burundi in the second round tomorrow.
Nahimana silenced Brazilian Konishi Camargo Silva 6-3, 7-6(4) in the first round.
Okutoyi became the third Kenyan to reach the second round of the championship after Judith Nkatha and Faith Nyabera sliced their opponents yesterday.
Nkatha beat Maria Lisa Nyonda from Gabon 5-7,6-2, 6-3, while Nyabera battled to overcome Gowda Vibharsee of India 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, giving Kenya a good head start.
Nkatha, 20, will meet fourth seeded Lexie Stevens from the Netherlands, while Nyabera, 19, will meet Serbian Nevena Sokovic in the second round.
Stevens edged out Indian’s Prasad Manju 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday, while Sokovic, who is ranked 989 in the world upset third seed Snehal Mane (854) from India 6-4, 2-6 and 6-0 on Tuesday.
Celestine Avomo Ella from Gabon (688) led 6-4 in the first set, before her opponent second seeded Fiona Codino (766) from France was forced to retire while trailing 3-0 in the second set.
That saw Avomo claim the victory to advance to the second round, where she is due to tackle the winner between Russian Alija Merdeeva (1512) and Diana Maria Mihail (Romania-1212).
Fifth seeded Tiffany William from Britain beat India’s Sathwika Sama 6-2, 6-4 and will face Safriaka Radilofe from France in the second round. Radilofe beat Naditra Rajmohan from India 6-4, 6-3 to advance
Additional information Daily Nation