Nairobi — By the end of a long week at Parklands Sports Club, Angela Okutoyi looked both relieved and assured. Kenya’s top-ranked woman had just done something no one else managed at the ITF World Tour W35 in Nairobi: win four titles in a single week.
On Sunday, the 21-year-old completed the set by lifting the singles trophy in the second leg of the tournament. She beat Italy’s fourth seed, Martina Colmegna, in straight sets, 6–3, 7–6, in a final that carried the edge of a familiar rivalry. The two had met days earlier in the semi-finals of the first leg. Okutoyi won then, too.
This time, she was sharper. She took control early, breaking serve to secure the opening set. Colmegna fought back in the second, trading heavy groundstrokes and testing Okutoyi’s resolve. At 5–5, the Kenyan steadied herself, pushed the set into a tie-break and closed it out with confident serving and clean returns.
The win sealed a rare sweep: two singles titles and two doubles crowns across the back-to-back tournaments in Nairobi. For Okutoyi, it also marked her first consecutive singles victories at this level.
“My first time winning back-to-back means a lot to me,” she said after the match. “I want to congratulate my opponent. Playing you has been challenging, and I wish you the best.”
She then paused, her voice softening, to dedicate the title to her late aunt. “I also want to dedicate this trophy to my aunt Cynthia,” Okutoyi said. “Wherever you are, thank you for giving me this strength.”
Colmegna was generous in defeat. “I tried my best but couldn’t match my opponent,” she said. “Congratulations, Angela, and good luck.” She also praised the hosts. “It was so nice to play in Kenya. What Kenya is doing for tennis is very important. We hope to play more in Africa.”
For Okutoyi, the week capped a sharp change in form. Last season had been bruising, with early exits in tournaments in Nairobi, the United States and the Netherlands. This run, by contrast, hinted at a player rediscovering confidence and rhythm.
The Wimbledon junior doubles champion has been helped by renewed backing off the court. She is again a beneficiary of the Olympic Solidarity scholarship through the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, support that she says has steadied her return.
Speaking to young athletes, she kept her message simple. “Trust in any sport you want to go into,” Okutoyi said. “Stay consistent, stay disciplined, and always believe in yourself.”
Her focus now shifts beyond Nairobi. After narrowly missing out on the Paris Olympics, Okutoyi is targeting Los Angeles in 2028. The ranking points earned this week move her closer to that goal.
Tennis Kenya president Wanjiru Mbugua said the tournament’s success showed what was possible. “We are grateful to every Kenyan who showed up,” she said. “We are also looking to host a W50 as our players continue to rise.”
For winning the singles title, Okutoyi earns $4,860 in prize money and 35 ranking points. More than that, she leaves Nairobi with momentum and the sense that this breakthrough week may be only the beginning.
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