Who is Moise Kouame? Wildcard makes more French Open history after victory over grand slam champion
The Independent • • sports
Key Points:
- Moise Kouame, a 17-year-old French wildcard ranked 313, advanced to the third round of the French Open in his grand slam debut, becoming the youngest man to do so since Rafael Nadal in 2003.
- Kouame secured a five-set victory over Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in a nearly five-hour match, showcasing remarkable stamina and energy in his first five-set encounter.
- Earlier, Kouame made history by defeating former US Open champion Marin Cilic in straight sets, becoming the youngest man to win a match at Roland Garros since 1991 and the youngest to beat a former grand slam champion there in the Open era.
- Coached by former French prodigy Richard Gasquet, Kouame has quickly risen in prominence, with his performances drawing strong crowd support and signaling the potential arrival of a new French tennis star.
- Kouame will face Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, ranked No. 36, in the third round after Tabilo advanced due to an opponent's injury withdrawal.