Imagine being 17, walking onto a major tennis court, and facing a former US Open champion who's two decades older than you. Now imagine absolutely dominating him. That's exactly what French phenom Moise Kouame did at the French Open, becoming the youngest man in 17 years to win a main-draw match at a major tournament.
Kouame, a wildcard entry, dispatched Marin Cilic — a 2014 US Open winner and former world number three — in straight sets: 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-1. On Court Simonne Mathieu, the teenager played with the kind of calm you usually only see from someone who's already won a few of these. Apparently, being ranked 318th against Cilic's 46th is just a minor detail.
Fearless and Fast
Cilic, at 20 years Kouame's senior, probably expected a different kind of match. But Kouame brought a blistering defense and a penchant for clever drop shots that had the crowd roaring. He even saved two set points in the first, then snagged it in a tiebreak before completely taking over the match. Not a single break point for Cilic. Let that sink in.
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Start Your News DetoxAt 17 years and two months, Kouame is now the youngest Grand Slam match-winner since Bernard Tomic in 2009. He's also the youngest to advance past the first round at Roland Garros since Dinu Pescariu way back in 1991. "Exceptional" was his word for the win, which, if you think about it, is a bit of an understatement.
Coached by former French pro Richard Gasquet, this was only Kouame's second main-tour victory. His first came just months ago at the Miami Masters. Next up, he'll face Paraguay's Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, who advanced after a retirement due to injury. Kouame’s quick ascent through three ITF titles this season clearly has him primed for bigger stages. He credits earlier wildcard experiences at Miami and Monte-Carlo for keeping him cool, calm, and collected. Because apparently, that's where we are now: 17-year-olds showing up seasoned pros and making history look easy.
