Kenya’s tennis team continued their impressive form at the Billie Jean King Cup as they secured a commanding 3-0 win against Uganda at the Nairobi Club on Wednesday.
Building on her outstanding performance from the previous day, Angela Okutoyi, who is based in the US, swiftly defeated Uganda’s Patience Athieno in the opening match, winning 6-0 in both sets. Her dominant display gave Kenya a 2-0 lead.
Cynthia Wanjala further solidified Kenya’s position by defeating Uganda’s Birugi Winnie 2-0, securing a 6-3, 6-0 victory in the first and second sets.
Okutoyi attributed her enviable success to her aggressive and patient approach, which she believes will serve her well in the upcoming match against Namibia. “I focused on playing my game and being aggressive, knowing that my opponent wasn’t as strong,” Okutoyi commented.
Wanjala admitted to feeling nervous initially but managed to overcome it to secure the crucial win. “I did my best, and although I was a bit nervous in the first set, my coach’s advice to relax helped me get back into the game,” she shared.
In the doubles match, Kenya’s duo of Roselida Asumwa and Melissa Mwakha proved unstoppable as they defeated Uganda’s Patience Athieno and Winnie Birugi in straight sets, winning 6-2 and 6-0.
Melissa expressed her delight at making her cup debut but emphasized the importance of not putting excessive pressure on herself. “I was really excited about the match, and I tried not to burden myself with too much pressure. We expected to win, and I’m thrilled that we did,” Melissa expressed.
With their outstanding performances, the Kenyan team is eager to maintain their impressive run in the tournament as they prepare to face Namibia on Thursday.
Additional Reporting by Beryl Oyoo
