Kenya’s tennis team showcased exceptional skill and coordination, sweeping Mauritius with a decisive 3-0 win on the opening day of the Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group III tournament held at the Nairobi Club.
Cynthia Wanjala of Kenya set the tone with a commanding win over Mauritius’ Chan Kwai, taking the match 6-3, 6-1. This early victory gave the Kenyan team a significant lead.
Following suit, Angella Okutoyi, the Africa Games champion, faced off against Jessoo Tejaswini in the second singles match. Okutoyi, displaying her prowess on the court, secured a resounding victory with a perfect score of 6-0, 6-0, further solidifying Kenya’s position.
In the doubles match, the Kenyan pair of Roselda Asumwa and Alicia Owegi demonstrated their dominance by mirroring the singles’ success, winning with a score of 6-1, 6-1 in both sets, thus confirming Kenya’s triumph.
Okutoyi, who holds the title of Junior Wimbledon Doubles champion, shared her contentment with the strategy employed. “I aimed to play assertively and maintain the lead, ensuring we didn’t concede any ground. Our focus is unwavering, and we’re tackling each match one by one. It’s an auspicious beginning for us,” she remarked.
Francis Rogoi, the Head Coach, praised his team’s capacity to overcome initial jitters and dominate their matches. “Team competitions often start with nerves due to the eagerness to win. Despite a tentative start, we quickly found our rhythm,” Rogoi observed.
Elsewhere in Pool B, Tunisia, the second seed, was unexpectedly defeated by eighth seed Burundi with a scoreline of 2-1.
In Pool A, South Africa secured a clean 3-0 win against Namibia, while Zimbabwe outplayed Madagascar with a 3-1 victory. Over in Pool C, Nigeria dispatched Uganda with a 3-0 win, and Botswana claimed a 2-1 victory over Ghana.
Looking ahead, Kenya is poised to face Tunisia on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, with high hopes of clinching the overall title and ascending from Group Three to Two, building on their third-place finish in the previous year’s tournament.
