Defending champions Angella Okutoyi and Rasheeda McAdoo made a winning start to their ITF W100 Aschaffenburg doubles title defense after surviving a stern opening-round test in Germany on Tuesday, 7 July.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe second-seeded Kenyan-American partnership battled past Ukraine’s Anastasiia Firman and Anastasiia Sobolieva 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 in a thrilling contest that lasted one hour and 44 minutes to secure their place in the quarter-finals.Why Victor Wanyama believes Harambee Stars can qualify for 2030 World CupThe victory marks a significant start for Okutoyi, who recently embarked on a new chapter in her career after leaving the United States collegiate tennis circuit to pursue full-time professional tennis. The 2022 Wimbledon Girls’ doubles champion has since relocated her training base to London, with the win providing an early confidence boost as she continues adapting to the demands of the professional tour.##NAJAVA_MECA_9838023##Okutoyi and McAdoo looked comfortable in the opening set, taking control with timely breaks of serve before wrapping it up 6-3 in just 35 minutes.Their opponents, however, mounted a spirited response in the second set. Firman and Sobolieva matched the defending champions throughout a tense 54-minute battle before capitalising on late errors to edge the set 7-5 and force a deciding match tiebreak.Storied Zambian club confirm signing of Kenyan strikerWith momentum seemingly shifting in favour of the Ukrainians, the encounter came down to a first-to-10-points tiebreak.The experienced partnership of Okutoyi and McAdoo, who have previously enjoyed success together on the ITF circuit, including a title run in Troisdorf, held their composure during the decisive moments. They edged the tense breaker 10-8 to complete the comeback and keep their title defense alive.##NAJAVA_MECA_9838369##The victory also offered Okutoyi a timely response after suffering a narrow three-set defeat in the singles qualification draw on Monday.