African Games: Okutoyi in pivotal semis clash after Tuesday exploits

Kenyan tennis ace Angela Okutoyi will on Wednesday afternoon seek to continue her impressive form in the 13th edition of the African Games in Accra, Ghana when she lines up in the women’s singles semifinals against Egyptian opponent Mayar Sherif Ahmed.

Okutoyi, who is going for her first medal in the tournament, has enjoyed a brilliant run-in thus far, and one that pulled her clear of her Round of 16 exit in 2019.

On Tuesday, after recording wins in the Round of 32 and 16 against Zambian Naomi Chilese in straight sets (6-3,6-1), and Egyptian Refaat Mostafa Elkotb (6-3, 6-3), Okutoyi met a familiar foe - Aya El Aouni of Tunisia - in the quarterfinals, dismissing her 6-4, 6-4.

The result means that the former junior doubles Wimbledon Grand Slam champion has not dropped a set in the championships, and now stands a chance of not only winning a medal, but in the event of going all through, becoming the first Kenyan since Jane Davies-Doxzon (1978) to win tennis gold.

A ticket to the summer Paris Olympic Games is also on the cards for the eventual winner (with an asterisk of being top 400 in the world).

Against Mayar, Okutoyi will face a formidable opponent, who is world number 31 - the highest ranked Egyptian player in the Open Era.

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She was the first Egyptian female player in a main draw of a Grand Slam tournament, at the 2020 French Open, and also made history for Egyptian tennis at the 2021 Australian Open, becoming the first woman from her nation to win a Grand Slam main-draw match.

A win for Okutoyi, could be career-defining, even as she takes on to the court later in the day in the doubles where she and Cynthia Cheruto will face Egypt in the semifinals.

The singles game takes place at 1300 EAT.