Kenyan tennis player Angela Okutoyi, on November 16, disclosed that she won her latest doubles gold medal while coping with distressing news about her aunt’s health.
The athlete revealed that she was informed of a sudden medical emergency just minutes before stepping onto the court for her second-round singles match.
Angella Okutoyi and her partner Francesca Pace won gold in the W35 Orlando women’s doubles with a 2-1 (6-3, 4-6, 13-12) victory over USA’s Maribella Zamarripa and Allura Zamarripa.
“Right before my round two singles match, I received a message from my mom that my aunt had gone into cardiac arrest,” Okutoyi said.
She explained that the situation marked a worsening situation in her aunt’s condition, who had already been hospitalised but was previously able to respond through nodding or writing.
Okutoyi describes a sudden decline in her aunt’s condition
Okutoyi reported that the cardiac arrest left her aunt unresponsive.
“Her brain and heart shut down… and since that moment she hasn’t been the same,” she said, adding that she no longer shows movement or signs of awareness.
Despite the emotional shock, Okutoyi continued with her matches.
She fell short in the singles semifinals but secured doubles gold later in the day. She admitted that her outward expressions did not reflect the distress she was experiencing.
“I might look happy in this video, but deep down I’m sad,” she said.
The tennis star dedicated her performance to her aunt, stating that she fought through the competition for her family.
She acknowledged missing her aunt’s daily congratulatory messages, which had been a consistent source of motivation.
Okutoyi expressed continued hope for recovery, adding that she prays each day for improvement in her aunt’s condition.
Angella Okutoyi: Kenyan Tennis Star
Angella Okutoyi, born on January 29, 2004, is a Kenyan professional tennis player who has made history in both junior and professional circuits.
She first gained international attention when she became the first Kenyan woman to win a junior Grand Slam match at the 2022 Australian Open.
Later that year, she made history again by winning the Wimbledon girls’ doubles title, partnering with Rose Marie Nijkamp, Kenya’s first Grand Slam title in any category.
In professional tennis, Okutoyi has won multiple ITF World Tennis Tour titles.
Also Read: Britam Awards Angela Okutoyi Ksh.1M For Wimbledon Win
In July 2023, she became the first Kenyan, male or female, to claim an ITF singles title at the W15 Monastir event.
She added her second professional singles title at the W25 Nairobi tournament in December 2023, cementing her status as Kenya’s leading female tennis player.
Angela has also excelled at continental competitions. She won gold in women’s singles at the African Games, defeating Egypt’s Lamis Alhussein Abdel Aziz in the final.
On the international stage, she has represented Kenya in the Billie Jean King Cup, making her debut at the age of 14.
She has achieved career-high WTA rankings of No. 491 in singles and No. 249 in doubles, demonstrating consistent progress on the professional tour.
On November 13, 2025, Kenyan tennis star Angella Okutoyi secured a thrilling doubles victory at the ITF W35 Orlando 3 tournament.
Partnering with Francesca Pace, Okutoyi overcame Samantha Alicea and Malkia Ngounoue in a three-set match, finishing 57, 61, [102] to claim the win.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates
