Okutoyi shines, clinches ITF W35 Nairobi crown

The Kenyan star showed grit, composure, and championship mentality as she battled past Italy’s Martina Colmegna 2-1 in a pulsating final decided 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. In front of an energized home crowd, Okutoyi dug deep after dropping the second set to seal an emotional triumph and crown an outstanding week.

Okutoyi started the final brightly, dictating play from the baseline to take the opening set 6-3. However, the experienced 29-year-old Colmegna responded with authority in the second set, tightening her game and forcing errors from the Kenyan to level the match with a 6-3 win and push the contest into a decisive third set.

The decider tested both players’ resolve. After an early exchange of breaks that kept the scores level, the African Games champion found her rhythm and momentum.

Okutoyi raised her intensity, broke serve at a crucial moment and maintained her composure to close out the set 6-3, finally lifting the trophy she narrowly missed in 2025 when she finished runner-up to Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland.

The title capped an impressive run for the Auburn University student, who looked sharp from the opening round. She began her campaign with a commanding 6-4, 6-3 victory over Hungary’s Luca Udvardy, before dispatching Serbia’s Dusica Popovski 6-4, 6-1 in the second round. Okutoyi then advanced when Serbia’s Natalija Senic retired after the first set in the quarterfinals.

Her toughest test came in the semifinals on Saturday, January 3, where she rallied from a set down to defeat Polish international Zuzanna Pawlikowska 2-6, 6-0, 7-5 in a dramatic encounter.

Okutoyi also celebrated success in doubles. Partnering with Pawlikowska, the duo overcame France’s Alyssa Reguer and China’s Yufei Ren 6-2, 7-5 to secure the doubles crown later that day.

For her efforts, Okutoyi earned 30,000 dollars in prize money and collected 35 valuable ranking points. The victory further cements her status as Kenya’s top-ranked player, with current standings placing her 561st in the WTA rankings and 865th in the ITF singles rankings.