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Albert Njogu and Angela Okutoyi cruised through to the 2023 Singles semi-finals yesterday at the Nairobi Club with all eyes firmly focused on the ultimate prize.

Top seeded Njogu who was in buzzing form saw off Kazungu Karema in straight set scores of 6-2/6-1. It was overall a straight forward game for Njogu who spent less than an hour on court dripping a mere three games in the process against his unseeded opponent.

In another exciting men’s duel, Kevin Cheruiyot seeded fifth on the tournament lost to second seed Kael Shah, 18, in disappointing fashion. The result of 6-2/6-2 was unprecedented for a visibly irritated Cheruiyot who had a bad outing on the court. The young Kaela Business and Economics student who is based in Ohio, USA used his serve to great effect and played impossible balls in the middle of the court that forced Cheruiyot to do lots of running and chasing.

Meanwhile 11th seed Kevin Ndolya upset he formbook with a 3-6/6-2/7-5 win over third seed Keean Shah. It was a game if wit, stamina and patience as both players sized each other up. Ndolya who has only met Shah once in the 14 and under junior Championships, proved a hard but to crack and had to dig deep.

“My first set was bad but I regrouped and came back to life. It was all about belief and playing my shots right. I look forward to the semis today against a good opponent in the shape of Njogu so it will be about working on tactics well,” said Ndolya.

In the Ladies singles, top seed Okutoyi came through unscathed with a convincing 6-0/6-0 win over Stacy Yego.

The match almost seemed like a practice session for the American based Okutoyi who did not drop a single game on her way to an important but routine win with all eyes on her target of attaining a second Kenya Open title plus a cash token of Shs 70,000.

In another women’s singles quarters duel, Alicia Owegi seeded fifth saw off Tanzanian fourth seed Esther Nankilange in straight sets of 6-1/6-2.

Owegi also based in USA, was in buzzing mode with good okay especially down the net. Her movement and shot variety also made her work all the more easier against the challenger.