Kenya's Angella Okutoyi began her full professional tennis career on July 6 at the ongoing W100 Aschaffenburg Ladies Open (SanLucar), where she was defeated by Andreea Prisacariu in her singles qualifying match.
However, a day later, on Tuesday, she bounced back by winning her doubles opening-round match alongside partner Rasheeda McAdoo, as the pair attempt to defend the title they won last year.
The 22-year-old Kenyan, who wrapped up a standout collegiate career at Auburn University in Alabama, USA, before turning fully professional, is back to defend her SanLucar Ladies Open doubles crown on the outdoor clay courts at Kleine Schönbuschallee 80, Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, Germany.
Now working under a coaching team that includes former world No. 1 doubles player Cara Black and former top-five player Wayne Black, Okutoyi and McAdoo are aiming not only to retain their title in Germany but also to earn valuable ranking points.
In her second season at the SanLucar Ladies Open, the tournament marks an important early step for Okutoyi as she begins life as a full-time professional, having recently relocated her training base to London after completing her college career at Auburn University in Alabama.
As Okutoyi and McAdoo now focus on the second round, Aschaffenburg holds special significance for the Kenyan star following her success there last year. Another deep run would provide an early indication of her progress under her new professional setup.