Okutoyi targeting last four of singles and doubles in Tunisia

Kenya's tennis sensation Angella Okutoyi will square it out with Gloriana Goreti Nahum from Benin in the quarterfinal on Wednesday as she marches on with her quest to defend her title at the ongoing Africa Junior Championship for the 18 and under category.

Okutoyi saw off Moroccan Manal Ennaciri on Tuesday morning by straight sets of 7-6(5), 6-1 in the second round, although she was forced to dig deeper to grasp the first set after it went into a tie break, with her quarterfinal opponent Goreti defeating Tunisian Amira Bargaoui 2-1 (6-3, 6-4, 3-6).

The defending champion was seeded first and received a bye to the second round with her opponent for the round edging out Leena Metwally by straight sets of 7-6, 6-3.

In addition to the singles quarterfinal match, she will partner with Ekua Youri from Botswana in the doubles in yet another quarterfinal after the two edged out the duo of Chelsea Chakanyuka and Naledi Raguin from Botswana in the first round of the doubles on Tuesday.

The two will be up against the Tunisian pair of Ons Boubaker and Ranim Rassil in the challenge for the semifinal ticket.

Kenya's other representatives at the competition Cynthia Wanjala and Alicia Owegi were eliminated from contention for the title in both the singles and the doubles.

Wanjala was beaten by straight sets of 6-1, 6-2 by South African Leigh Van Zyl while Owegi fell by straight sets also of 6-3, 6-1 to Tunisian Hiba Heni in the first round in the singles on Monday.

On Tuesday, the pair partnered for the doubles but lost 2-0 to Egyptians Jermine Sherif and Layla Shoukry.