BJK Cup Day 4: Kenya face Namibia as Morocco take on Nigeria in crucial tie

Day 4 is here with us at the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup ongoing at a cold Nairobi Club this Thursday morning.

Hosts Kenya face Namibia in their fourth match of the tournament and will be looking to keep up with their winning record after victories over top seeds Morocco, Botswana and Uganda.

While they take on the Namibians at Center Court, a storm of a clash awaits just outside on Court 1 as Pool leaders Nigeria take on Morocco who are trying to close the gap following their loss against Kenya.

As things stand, Nigeria lead the standings after a 100% start to the competition. Kenya sit in second on the same number of points but having lost one match less as Morocco sit in third.

Kenya will be represented by Angella Okutoyi with Theron Liniques turning out for Namibia

While Kenya come into the affair brimming in confidence following wins in all three of their games, Namibia have not managed any victory yet, losing to Botswana, Nigeria and Morocco.

Liniques immediately gets a measure of the task awaiting her as Okutoyi breaks immediately in the first game.

Okutoyi holds her serve comfortably before breaking once again to go 3-0 up.

Liniques finally manages to get on the board for a 3-1 score but that is all she manages as Okutoyi goes on to take the opening set 6-1 after half an hour.

The second set assumes a similar pattern to the first as Okutoyi races to a 3-0 lead after breaking in between holding serves.

She breaks again for a second time to go 4-0 up and holds her serve for 5-0.

Although her first serve has not been efficient today, Okutoyi's second serve has bailed her on a number of occasions.

The Kenyan girl breaks again to finish the match in 52 minutes with the 6-1,6-0 result.

In Court 1, Morocco start strongly and Aya El Aouni manages to take the first set 7-5 to give her side the advantage.

Cynthia Wanjala will take to court for Kenya's second Singles game where she will face Lisa Lia Yssel.

The 19 year old student from Mbagathi Road Primary will be playing her second Singles after her first against Uganda.

After 45 minutes, she takes the first set 6-4, utilizing two of her four break points to get the advantage in the clash.

A much straight foward second set for Wanjala as she manages to break three times to take the set 6-2 after 32 minutes.

Kenya now have the 2-0 lead and head into the Doubles needing a win that could prove to be crucial in the standings.

Meanwhile, Morocco and Nigeria still battling on Court 1.

After playing together on Tuesday for the first time in the tourney, Roselida Asumwa and Melissa Mwakha will partner again in the Doubles for Team Kenya as they face Joanivia Bezuidenhout and Leandre Nabia Louw.

Isukuti dancers meanwhile entertaining the crowd with their lively and energetic tunes.

The two girls do not take long to leave their mark in the match as they take the first set 6-1 after only 27 minutes.

They are made to sweat in the second set by the Namibians but they pull through with a 6-3 second set victory.

Morocco on the other hand win both Singles matches to ensure that Kenya go top of Pool A despite the result in the Doubles.

Aya El Aouni got the Moroccan engine revving as she took care of Osabuohien Adesuwa 6-1, 6-2 after one hour and twenty minutes.

Yasmine Kabbaj then won 7-5, 7-6 in a tough second Singles encounter against Barakat Oyinlomo.

Aouni returned back to court and partnered with Malak El Allami as they managed a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Adesuwa and Barakat.

That does it for Day 4 at the Nairobi Club.

See you on a pressure Friday for Team Kenya who need to win against Nigeria to get the ticket to meet Pool B winners for the promotion match to Group II.

BJK Cup 2023: Perfect Kenya go top of Pool A after feisty Morocco whitewash Nigeria