In Summary
- Hosts Kenya started the tournament on a low in Group A against fancied Moroccans with Kenya’s Alicia Owegi falling 6-3, 6-0 to Aya El Aouni in the opening game
- Team Kenya is led by Wimbledon junior doubles champion Angella Okutoyi, her twin sister Roselida Asumwa, Cynthia Cheruto and Alicia Owegi
Angela Okutoyi and Cynthia Cheruto inspired Kenya to a great comeback as the Billie Jean King Cup Group III tennis tournament got underway on Monday at the Nairobi Club.
Hosts Kenya started the tournament on a low in Group A against fancied Moroccans with Kenya’s Alicia Owegi falling 6-3, 6-0 to Aya El Aouni in the opening game.
Kenya recovered as the duo of Okutoyi and Cheruto defeated Malak El Alami 7-5 in the first set before sealing victory with a 6-3 win in the second set.
Team Kenya is led by Wimbledon junior doubles champion Angella Okutoyi, her twin sister Roselida Asumwa, Cynthia Cheruto and Alicia Owegi.
Kenya has been placed in Pool A which is considered the Group of Death.
The group comprises top ranked Morocco, Botswana, Nigeria, Uganda and Namibia
Pool B includes Tunisia, Ghana, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and Seychelles.
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12 African teams in tourney
The six days competition runs from Monday to Saturday and it has attracted twelve African teams to Nairobi for the week -long tournament.
The tournament will be played in a round robin format where the winner will be promoted to the second rank division while the bottom-placed team will be relegated.
The ITF/Billie Jean King Cup Committee appointed Tennis Kenya to host the event after a competitive bidding process.
Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge is one of the most prestigious international tennis tournaments and Africa Group III event will feature some of the best women’s tennis teams in Africa.
