Angella Okutoyi claimed the 2026 ITF World Tennis Tour W35 Nairobi singles crown and also lifted the doubles trophy in a breakthrough home-week performance, beating Italy’s Martina Colmegna in a three‑set final and completing a rare singles‑and‑doubles double at Parklands Sports Club in Nairobi
Angella Okutoyi’s triumph — the match and the moment
Angella Okutoyi produced a gritty, emotional performance to win the W35 Nairobi singles final 6‑3, 3‑6, 6‑3 against Martina Colmegna, a match that lasted roughly two hours and 22 minutes and drew a passionate home crowd at Parklands Sports Club, Nairobi. Okutoyi’s victory was not only a personal milestone — it was her first W35 singles title after several attempts and came alongside a doubles title she won with partner Zuzanna Pawlikowska, giving her a rare singles‑and‑doubles sweep at the event.
Brief history of the W35 event and its place on the tour
The ITF World Tennis Tour W35 category sits within the ITF Women’s circuit as a mid‑level professional tournament that offers ranking points and competitive opportunities for players transitioning between junior, ITF and WTA levels. W35 events are staged worldwide on different surfaces and have become important stepping stones for players seeking to climb the rankings and gain match experience against seasoned opponents.
Okutoyi — background and trajectory
Angella Okutoyi, 21, first made headlines as a junior — she is a former Junior Wimbledon doubles champion — and has steadily built a professional résumé on the ITF circuit. Her Nairobi week added to a growing list of career highlights: this singles title was her first W35 singles win and her third singles title on the ITF World Tennis Tour overall, while the doubles success increased her doubles haul on the tour to double‑digit totals, reflecting consistent progress in both disciplines.
Noteworthy stats and tournament arc
Final score: 6‑3, 3‑6, 6‑3 (Okutoyi over Colmegna) — a match that swung on Okutoyi’s ability to reset after dropping the second set and to seize key break points in the decider.
Duration: ~2 hours 22 minutes, underlining the physical and mental demands of the final.
Double crown: Okutoyi won both singles and doubles at the same W35 event — a sign of exceptional form and endurance across the week.
Home advantage: The title came on Kenyan soil at Parklands Sports Club, amplifying its national significance and crowd support.
Why this matters
Okutoyi’s win is a milestone for Kenyan tennis: it reinforces her status as the country’s leading female player and signals readiness for higher‑level challenges, including WTA events and multi‑sport stages such as the Olympics. The combination of a home‑court title, a singles‑and‑doubles double, and a hard‑fought three‑set final makes this week a defining chapter in her early professional career.
