Okutoyi storms African Games singles final

Tennis sensation Angela Okutoyi on Wednesday punched the women’s singles final ticket at the ongoing African Games here in Accra, Ghana.

The 2022 Wimbledon Open doubles juniors champion defeated the reigning African Games singles champion Mayer Sherif of Egypt in 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 in a tight single semi-final clash that lasted for more than four hours at Borteyman Sports Complex.

The Kenya's top-ranked tennis star, who is seeded fourth with 532 points in the last WTA singles ranking, survived the first set scare (5-7) against the world no. 70 before turning the tables to clinch the other two sets in 7-5 and 7-6.

She will face another Egyptian, Lamis Elhussein Abdelaziz in the final on Thursday.

Okutoyi started the first set well but stumbled losing it 5-7 despite leading it to 3-1 in early stages. She then come up from 2-5 behind to dominate the second set winning it 7-5.

In third set, the US-based tennis sensation went down 3-0 but quickly right her wrongs to level 3-3 and made it 4-4 before taking 5-4 lead but the opponent leveled again 5-5.

The two went toe-to-toe, and Okutoyi fell behind 5-6 but quickly leveled 6-6 to force a tie breaker where she easily won.

The Auburn University student (USA) kicked well her gold medal hunt thrashing Zambian Naomi Chileshe, Merna Rafaat (Egypt) and Aya El Aouni (Morocco) in three stages respectively to meet Sherif who in her part gunned down Eliza Honfoga (Benin), Sasha Chimedza (Zimbabwe) and Ibbou Ines (Algeria).

The 20-year-old star was meeting her opponent Sherif for the first time and both earned first round byes.

Elhussein (562) in her part qualified for the final after beating Sandra Samir (466) 6-3, 7-5 in another semifinal.

Okutoyi was also scheduled to take part in double semifinals later on Wednesday where she was set to partner Cynthia Cheruto against Egyptians Sherif/Lamis Elhusein.