Moise Kouame, 17, defeated former US Open champion Marin Cilic at the French Open, becoming the youngest male Grand Slam match-winner in 17 years.
5:55 PM
French teenager Moise Kouame defeated former US Open champion Marin Cilic 7-6(4) 6-2 6-1 on Tuesday at the French Open, securing his first Grand Slam main-draw victory and becoming the youngest man to win a major match in 17 years.
Kouame, 17 years and two months old, was handed a wildcard by organisers for his Grand Slam debut on Court Simonne-Mathieu. He faced Cilic, a 2014 US Open champion and former world number three who is 20 years his senior. The French teenager raised his arms and threw his head back as the home crowd applauded his victory.
The win marks a significant milestone for Kouame. In February, he became the first player born in 2009 to access the main draw of an ATP tournament. With his French Open victory, he became the first player born in 2009 to win a match in the main draw of a Grand Slam.
Kouame is coached by Richard Gasquet, the retired French tennis player. According to Kouame, contact between the two was established through his agent shortly after Gasquet concluded his professional career. Gasquet brings extensive experience to the role, Kouame said.
The list of players who won a Grand Slam main-draw match at a young age includes Marat Safin, Lleyton Hewitt, Marin Cilic, Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Richard Gasquet.
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