Tennis player Angela Okutoyi who won the Grand Slam Title at the girls’ Junior Wimbledon Tennis tournament in the UK has stated that she owes her grandmother for the success.
Speaking to Citizen TV’s Waihiga Mwaura in a televised interview, Okutoyi said she was first introduced to tennis by her grandmother at the age of 4.
“Where I live at Loreto Convent Valley Road there are tennis courts. One time while coming out of school my grandmother asked Dennis Karani if we could play there and that’s how my twin sister and I were introduced to tennis,” Okutoyi said on Tuesday, July 12.
The 18-year-old further revealed that her grandmother stepped in and adopted them while she and her sister were staying at an orphanage.
“My mom died when she was giving birth to my twin sister and me. So we were in an orphanage but lucky enough my grandmother picked us from the orphanage just minutes before we were adopted,” the tennis player said.
Okutoyi said that it feels great to be a Wimbledon Champion adding that she believes her success on the court is going to inspire kids in Kenya adding that they too can achieve what she did.
“I didn’t come from a good background but I did it. I believe that more tennis players from Kenya can do it because I am a good example to them that nothing is possible,” Okutoyi added.
The tennis champion further stated that It never occurred to her that she had talent in tennis.
“People used to tell me because I used to win categories where I wasn’t supposed to play. I didn’t sense it but people sensed it for me,” Okutoyi told Mwaura.
She said that she usually trains from 7 am-10 am before heading to school from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.
“I then start my afternoon training from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm in the afternoon,” She added.
Asked about the challenges she has faced while training and competing in the sport, Okutoyi said that as a country, Kenya does not have enough facilities needed by tennis players for training.
“Most clubs in Kenya are members clubs. We don’t have enough facilities for most of us to play. And you know members clubs are a bit difficult for most of us to access,” the tennis player disclosed.
Okutoyi’s Wimbledon title came on the same day that Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur lost the women’s singles final to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.
Jabeur became the first Arab player and first African woman in the open era to reach a Grand Slam final.
“She’s an inspiration to Africa, to the Arab world and to Tunisia,” said Okutoyi.
“Usually when I warm up, I see her warming up and also practising and seeing what she does really motivated me to do good.
“Even though I don’t know her that much, I know she has a good personality even from the matches I see when someone is injured she’s there to help.
“She has a great personality and has inspired a lot of people and I hope to be like her one day.”
