2024: A 12 months of milestones for Kenya’s tennis

2024: A 12 months of milestones for Kenya’s tennis

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From Angela Okutoyi’s electrifying triumphs to the introduction of groundbreaking tournaments just like the ITF-ranked Beach Tennis in Malindi, the 12 months witnessed Kenya’s unyielding ardour and dedication to the game. With juniors taking heart stage and seasoned gamers making historical past, 2024 stands as a defining second for Tennis Kenya’s legacy.

Kenya did not ship a participant to the Paris Olympics within the Tennis competitors section this 12 months. However, it was largely a profitable 12 months for junior applications, each domestically and overseas.

Aside from annual applications just like the Kenya Open Championships, Tennis Kenya hosted a slew of thrilling and aggressive tournaments. Some of the highest occasions in Nairobi included the Billie Jean Cup Group III occasion and two W25 occasions held at Nairobi Club and Karen Country Club.

Monumental event

Kenya additionally made historical past by efficiently bidding for, organising, and executing the first-ever ITF-ranked Beach Tennis event in Malindi, the place the duo of Shufaa Changawa and Faith Urasa clinched bronze medals.

Additionally, the launch of the National Training Centre (NTC) created alternatives for the Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI) program to thrive throughout colleges and academies, whereas a junior wheelchair tennis camp was an progressive idea that sparked curiosity.

Kenya excelled in internet hosting top-tier occasions, together with 12 National Junior tournaments, 11 ITF World Tennis Tour Junior occasions (that includes the first-ever J100), 10 sanctioned occasions, 2 ITF UNIQLO Wheelchair tournaments, 1 National Senior occasion (Kenya Open Championships), ITF/CAT 14 & Under Circuits, 2 ITF World Tennis Tour W25 occasions and a couple of ITF Beach Tennis BT10 occasions.

The NTC presently trains 30 gamers, together with the highest 4 gamers in every class (12 & Under, 14 & Under, 16 & Under, 18 & Under).

Kenya’s star participant, Angela Okutoyi, delivered sensational performances each domestically and internationally. The 20-year-old, based mostly within the United States, retained her Kenya Open Ladies Championship title and clinched Kenya’s first-ever W25 Tour-level title.

She additionally gained the thirteenth African Games title in March 2024, rewriting historical past in Accra, Ghana, by incomes Kenya’s first continental title in practically 5 many years.

Missed by a whisker

However, Okutoyi narrowly missed qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics after falling wanting the highest 400 rating. At the time, the three-time Kenya Open champion and 2022 Wimbledon Doubles Junior Champion was ranked 495, needing to succeed in the highest 400 by June 10.

Meanwhile, younger ace Kael Shah had a outstanding 12 months, clinching the Kenya Open Men’s title after upsetting multiple-time winner Ismael Changawa. This marked Shah’s first-ever high money prize occasion victory.

The Denison University sophomore ended the 2024 season because the nationwide runner-up within the NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Singles Championship.

Tennis Kenya additionally had robust illustration in group occasions, together with the ITF/CAT East Africa Junior Teams (12 & Under) in Tanzania, the ITF/CAT East Africa Zone Championships (14 & 16 & Under) in Burundi, the Davis Cup qualifiers in Angola, the Africa Junior Championships (12 & Under) in Botswana, the BNP Paribas World Team Cup Africa Qualifiers in Nigeria, the Africa Junior Championships (14 & Under) in Togo and the thirteenth Africa Games in Ghana.

2024 efficiency

In the Davis Cup, Kenya completed sixth total, whereas within the Billie Jean King Cup, the host nation secured third place.

In wheelchair tennis, Kenya’s group carried out properly on the Nigerian World Team Cup Qualifiers in March 2024, with the lads’s group ending eighth and the ladies’s group clinching sixth place.

The officiating division additionally excelled in 2024, with 9 Tennis Kenya-accredited referees incomes high-profile assignments throughout the continent.

ITF Silver Badge Referee Patrick Kamuhia served because the ITF Supervisor for the Davis Cup World Group II tie in Togo. Ronald Okoth officiated on the ATP Challenger in Rwanda, Anne Mumbi on the Billie Jean King Cup in Nairobi, and James Maina on the ITF Men’s Tour in Ethiopia.

Treasa Mutuku officiated at each the ITF Men’s Tour in Rwanda and the Billie Jean King Cup in Portugal. Ellie Madegwa (Davis Cup in Botswana), Collins Oyugi (ITF Women’s Tour in France), and Lawrence Karanja (ITF Women’s Tour in Burundi) additionally took on key assignments that boosted their careers.