Okutoyi caps remarkable ITF World Tour W35 Nairobi outing with record fourth title

Kenyan tennis female top seed Angela Okutoyi underlined her growing stature on the international stage after completing a remarkable four-title haul in a single week at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tour Nairobi W35.

The 21-year-old clinched the second-leg singles title on Sunday with a straight-sets victory over Italian fourth seed Martina Colmegna at the Parklands Sports Club, with the final being a rematch between the two players, who had also crossed paths in the semifinals of the first leg of the tournament the previous weekend, where Okutoyi emerged victorious in two sets.

This time round, however, the Kenyan elevated her level, producing a composed and commanding performance to seal a clean sweep in Nairobi.

She took control early, claiming the opening set 6-3 after a tightly contested start in which Colmegna stayed competitive through the first three games.

The second set proved more intense, with the Italian mounting a spirited comeback as the two went toe-to-toe in a high-quality exchange. Just as Colmegna appeared poised to force a decider, Okutoyi held her nerve to level at 5-5, pushing the set into a tiebreak.

There, her superior serving and returns proved decisive as she clinched the breaker 7-6 (6-3) to complete the straight-sets triumph.

The victory sealed a double-title sweep in Nairobi, adding to her earlier doubles successes in both the first and second legs of the tournament. It also marked Okutoyi’s first back-to-back singles titles, a milestone she described as deeply meaningful.

“My first time winning back-to-back means a lot to me,” Okutoyi said after the match.

“I want to congratulate my opponent. Playing you has been challenging, but I know you have a bright future ahead, and I wish you the best.”

In an emotional moment, Okutoyi dedicated the title to her late aunt, Cynthia, who passed away last December.

“I also want to dedicate this trophy to my aunt Cynthia; wherever you are, thank you for giving me this strength,” she added.

Her opponent, Colmegna, was gracious in defeat, praising both Okutoyi and the tournament organizers.

“I tried my best but couldn’t match my opponent. Congratulations, Angella, and I wish you good luck,” she said. “I want to thank Tennis Kenya for the good organization.

“It was so nice to play in Kenya, and I hope you’ll organize more tournaments in the future. What Kenya is doing for tennis is very important; we wish to play more in Africa.”

The Wimbledon junior doubles champion has maintained impressive form throughout the Nairobi series, a run that has been boosted by her recent inclusion among the beneficiaries of the Olympic Solidarity scholarships awarded by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK).

This marks her second time in the NOC-K Individual Athlete Scholarship Program, further strengthening her preparations for the global stage.

Speaking to aspiring female athletes, Okutoyi encouraged women in tennis.

“Trust in any sport that you want to go into, stay consistent, stay disciplined, and always believe in yourself,” she said.

Okutoyi is now focused on building momentum toward the 2028 Olympic Games after narrowly missing out on the Paris Olympics, having finished just outside the world’s top 400.

Her resurgence comes after a challenging previous season that saw early exits from six events across Nairobi, the USA, and the Netherlands. The four W35 titles in Nairobi signal a strong turnaround and renewed confidence.

Tennis Kenya president Wanjiru Mbugua hailed the success of the event and hinted at bigger plans ahead.

“We are looking forward to hosting many of these events. We are very grateful to every Kenyan who showed up,” she said.

“We are also looking to host a W50 as our players continue to rise in ranking.”

For her efforts, the Auburn University student will pocket $4,860 (approximately Ksh 626,470) in prize money and earn 35 valuable ranking points, further boosting her push toward Olympic qualification.

 With her 2026 campaign off to a spectacular start, Okutoyi’s reign in Nairobi may well be a sign of even bigger achievements to come.