Okutoyi and Refaat advance to semifinals in Lincoln USA 55A Doubles Tournament

By Robert Mutasi 

Kenyan Angella Okutoyi and her partner, Egypt's Merna Refaat, are edging closer to an ITF title after a thrilling win in the quarterfinals at the W-ITF-USA-55A tournament in Lincoln, USA.

The duo showed tenacity and team work as they outsmarted their opponents, the American-Swiss duo of Savannah Atturu and Crystal Hsu, in a closely contested match.

Eventually, Okutoyi and Refaat won a thrilling yet tense match 7-6, 6-2. The level of the two teams was at an equal level in the opening set as both teams were so talented and determined. 

Finally, it came to the tiebreak, and the persistence of Okutoyi and Refaat paid dividends as they claimed the set 7-6.

In the second set, the opponents Atturu and Hsu fought back, but Okutoyi and Refaat retained their winning momentum, winning the set 6-2 to seal the match.

This win in the quarterfinals has been an icing on the cake regarding emergent careers for Okutoyi and Refaat. This victory adds to the growing list of acclaimed performances that Okutoyi, one of the shining stars from Kenya, has enjoyed on the international stage.

Success with Refaat shows more and more the ability of the Kenyan to adapt to the doubles format and skillfully perform in it.

Meanwhile, Refaat has always been around the Egyptian tennis circuit, and this combo with Okutoyi looks pretty promising.

Lincoln ITF event is very important for both the players in terms of valuable experience and ranking points that are on offer.

As they go into semis, tougher opponents await, but their confidence would be really up after this most recent win.

With both bringing different strengths onto the court, their chemistry and tactical acumen could see them feature in the finals.

Tennis enthusiasts in Kenya, Egypt, and elsewhere keenly await Okutoyi and Refaat forging ahead into the stages of the tournament.

It is a good pointer to the future of African tennis, as represented by the two athletes, an amalgam of potential and a reservoir of talent oozing out of the mother continent.

To that effect, both Okutoyi and Refaat head into the semifinals, hoping the triumphs continue and get them one step to the title.

A mouth-watering meeting in the last four promises victory that will launch Okutoyi and Refaat into the finals, where they should secure a well-deserved ITF doubles title.

The duo, that reaches for the stars, will be giving their best shot in the court on the next round.