Teenager Upsets Svajda in First Round

Moïse Kouamé, just 17 years old, secured his first victory on the main circuit on Thursday, March 19, at the Miami Open. The tournament organizers extended a wild card invitation to the young talent, and he capitalized on the opportunity, defeating American Zachary Svajda, ranked 96th in the world.

A Three-Set Battle

The match unfolded over three closely contested sets. Kouamé initially took the lead in the first set, breaking serve, but subsequently lost his own serve twice (5-7). He rallied in the second set, saving three break points at 3-4, then immediately broke Svajda’s serve to level the match (6-4). The decisive set saw Kouamé break early and maintain his advantage to close out the match (6-4).

Youngest French Winner Since Gasquet

Kouamé’s victory marks him as the youngest French tennis player to win a match on the main circuit since Richard Gasquet, who achieved a similar feat at the Monte-Carlo Master 1000 at the age of 15.

“Missing birthdays, parties, everything, but this is the life I chose”

Moise Kouame

Barely able to walk at the finish, Kouame relied almost entirely on his serve to close out the third set.

Djokovic Reaches Out

Following his win, Kouame received a congratulatory message from his idol, Novak Djokovic. He texted me something really nice. I respect him so much, inside and outside the court. Kouame expressed his dream of meeting Djokovic for a conversation.

Physical Exhaustion, Emotional High

Kouame acknowledged the physical toll the match took on him. I am completely exhausted. It was a extremely long battle in the heat, and by the end I could barely move my legs. I was suffering from cramps in the third set, so I had to rely almost entirely on my serve. Despite the exhaustion, he described the emotional experience as unbelievable.

FAQ

• How old is Moise Kouame? He is 17 years old.
• Who did Moise Kouame defeat in Miami? He defeated Zachary Svajda.
• What is Kouame’s ranking? His ranking was not provided in the source material.