- Kenya ace Angella Okutoyi stages an impressive comeback to qualify for the 2026 International Tennis Federation (ITF) W35 final in Nairobi.
- She rallied from a set down to defeat Poland’s Zuzanna Pawlikowska 2-6, 6-0, 7-5 on Saturday, January 3, at Parklands Sports Club.
- In Sunday’s final, she will face a formidable challenge against Italy’s Martina Colmegna.
Kenya’s Angella Okutoyi staged a sensational comeback from a set down to defeat Polish international Zuzanna Pawlikowska in the 2026 International Tennis Federation (ITF) W35 semifinals in Nairobi.
Pawlikowska seized the opening set comfortably, establishing an early 3–0 lead before closing it out 6–2, as Okutoyi struggled to find her rhythm in the match held at Parklands Sports Club on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
However, the African Games champion displayed nerves of steel, dominating the second set with a commanding 6–0 victory.
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Kenya ace Angella Okutoyi stage sensational comeback
The decider saw both players exchange games, remaining level at 1–1 after the opening service holds.
They continued neck-and-neck until 5–5, when Okutoyi clinched the final two games at a crucial break to claim the set 7–5, securing her place in the final after a gripping battle lasting 2 hours and 44 minutes.
Okutoyi returns to the championship final match seeking redemption after falling in last year’s final to Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland 6–1, 6–4.
She has enjoyed an impressive run since the tournament began, opening with a dominant 6–4, 6–3 win over Hungary’s Luca Udvardy.
She then overcame Serbia’s Dusica Popovski 6–4, 6–1 in the second round, before advancing further when another Serbian, Natalija Senic, retired after the first set.
In the final, she will face a formidable opponent in Italy’s Martina Colmegna, who cruised into the title match by sweeping aside France’s Alyssa Reguer in straight sets, 7–6, 6–4.
Should Okutoyi prevail, she will be favored to lift the trophy buoyed by strong home support.
However, the task will be challenging against a higher-ranked rival; Pawlikowska holds the 440th position in the WTA Rankings, while Okutoyi is currently placed 557th.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s doubles final- featuring Okutoyi partnering with Pawlikowska against France’s Alyssa Reguer and China’s Yufei Ren was suspended.
The two-week tournament, which offers $30,000 in weekly prize money (approximately Ksh 3,868,500 at current exchange rates), is set to conclude on Sunday, January 4.