Dylan Bettencourt
After Ons Jabeur failed to become the first African to win a singles Grand Slam for the continent, Kenyan Angela Okutoyi, playing in the girls’ doubles with Dutch partner Marie Rose Nijkamp emerged victorious in the girls’ doubles.
The 18-year-old is the first Kenyan to win a Wimbledon title.
The unseeded pair beat Canadians Kayla Cross and Victoria Mboko 3-6 6-4 11-9.
The Kenyan teenager had never before played on grass and lost her first girls’ singles match. She didn’t let the loss deter her as she stormed onto the double’s stage.
“It’s great for me to be the first Kenyan to win a Grand Slam and to reach a final in a Grand Slam,” Okutoyi told BBC Sport Africa after Saturday’s win.
“I can now inspire more players from Kenya and Africa. I’m able to put a belief in them that they can also achieve it.”
She said a person’s background or where they come from doesn’t matter.
“It’s just the belief and the dream that you can achieve it. Now I believe that we’ll have more Kenyans here for sure,” she said.
The youngster said despite not playing on grass before she later felt confident playing on the surface and was loving playing on grass.
“It is just the belief you have in yourself that you can play on any surface. So yeah, I’m happy to play on grass for sure,” Okutoyi added.
The teenager added that Jabeur is one of her inspirations despite Jabeur losing the women’s singles final on Saturday.
“She’s an inspiration to Africa, to the Arab world and to Tunisia,” said Okutoyi.
“When I warm up I see her warming up and practising. Seeing what she does motivates me to play well.”
Both Okutoyi and Jabeur hope that their success can improve the game in Africa.
“I have a philosophy and it is that a negative mind will never give you a positive life. That’s what I say when I want to inspire young kids. They have to believe in themselves more than anything else,” Okutoyi said.
Image source: @TheIndependent
