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Okutoyi's hunt for Olympic spot off to positive start in Florida
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 02.05.24. | 10:25
The 20-year-old needs to be in the top 400 spots by 10 June to make the cut for the Summer Games
African Games champion Angella Okutoyi on Wednesday secured her place in the last 16 of the W35 Boca Raton tournament in Florida after a straight-sets victory in what was her first outing since late April.
The 20-year-old, playing on the third day after being exempted from the qualifiers, overpowered 17-year-old American An Claire 6-4, 6-3 in the Round of 32 match-up, effectively booking her slot in Thursday’s last 16 ties.
African Games champion Angella Okutoyi of Kenya needs to reach the top 400 by the week after Roland-Garros to get a WC into the Olympics.
— Tick Tock Tennis (@TickTockTennis) May 1, 2024
A title at the ITF 35 Boca Raton would be a surprise, but would put her about 30 spots away.
Okutoyi wins her opening match today. 👏🙌 pic.twitter.com/4ZnZKxM8Ix
In Court 10 at 1830 EAT, Okutoyi, currently ranked 549th in the world (singles) will face another American - Lilian Poling - with the hope of advancing deep to a pivotal tournament that could carve her way to this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The 2023 Kenya Open Champion needs to make it to the top 400 positions in the WTA standings by 10 June to make the cut for the Summer Games.
Okutoyi’s recent hunt for ranking points came in the W75 Charlottesville tournament late last month, where she suffered a qualifying round defeat to American Sophie Chang.
That looked like a big dent to her qualification hopes, but a strong outing in Florida will make amends, given that she is likely to sacrifice her participation in Auburn’s Berkeley Regional tournament expected to start on Friday.
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