Australian Open: Trailblazers Angella Okutoyi and Meshkat al-Zahra Safi are ‘what tennis is really about’

From Billie Jean King to Ons Jabeur, tennis is no stranger to trailblazing stars – and two more have emerged at the Australian Open. Iran's Meshkat al-Zahra Safi and Kenya's Angella Okutoyi both made history in the girls’ singles in Melbourne, becoming the first players from their respective nations to win a Grand Slam juniors match. Ad/> The pair recorded their feats on Sunday, and though Safi – Iran’s first female player to be ranked in the junior top 100 – has since exited the tournament, Okutoyi’s run goes on after the Kenyan beat Australia’s Zara Larke in three sets on Tuesday to reach the last 16.

Australian OpenOrder of play, Day 10: Medvedev in top-10 battle, Cornet and Kanepi chase first semis34 MINUTES AGO «I am happy to represent my country and everyone back home. It gives me motivation and I believe it gives Kenyan kids motivation to believe they can do it,» said 17-year-old Okutoyi afterwards. When asked if Jabuer, the 27-year-old Tunisian who last year became the first Arabian to reach tennis’ top 10, has had an influence on tennis in Africa, Eurosport expert Mats Wilander said: “Absolutely.

Ons Jabeur is a great inspiration. “Tennis is a great sport that has brought Billie Jean King as a spokesperson for equal rights between men and women, big time. Arthur Ashe, of course, a human rights activist in his time – God bless you Arthur.

“And that’s what tennis can do. And just like the girl there from Kenya said, 'I hope to be an inspiration for women, for my country.' That’s what tennis is really about. “The game is bigger than the Australian Open, bigger than Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, this is what it is really about to me.” Nadal special treatment row: Wilander says 'great