Competing within the first skilled last, normally at Futures, is a superb milestone for each participant. The style of success turns into even stronger while you obtain that earlier than some other participant out of your technology. France’s Moise Kouame did that this week!
Three days after his sixteenth birthday, the younger gun performed in his first Futures last in Sharm El Sheikh. Thus, Moise turned the primary participant born in 2009 to realize that. Not solely that, however he notched his first skilled last two months youthful than Carlos Alcaraz!
The Spaniard performed his first title match on the professional stage in July 2019 at 16 years and two months. Whereas Alcaraz lifted a trophy on the primary strive, Kouame should wait for one more alternative after shedding steam on the final impediment.
Moise Kouame, la nueva joya del tenis francés 🇫🇷
A los 16 años, llegó a las semifinales del M15 Sharm El Sheikh. Así, se convirtió en el primer tenista nacido en el año 2009 en arribar a una semifinal a nivel profesional. 🫶
Además, el año pasado jugó la Copa Davis Junior. pic.twitter.com/76If2eRrPb
— ITFTennis_es (@ITFTennis_es) March 7, 2025
The younger Frenchman reached the quarter-final on the identical occasion every week in the past. He went additional this time and earned 4 victories. Moise performed his final match because the 15-year-old towards Aleksandre Bakshi within the first spherical. The younger gun led 5-1 when his rival retired.
The birthday boy needed to work a lot more durable within the second spherical towards Toby Martin. A teen prevailed 2-6, 7-6, 7-6 in three hours and three minutes. The Briton led 6-2, 4-2 earlier than the Frenchman bounced again and prolonged the duel.
Moise Kouame© Stream screenshot
Kouame broke again in sport eight and clinched the tie break to pressure a decider. They traded breaks in video games seven and eight and repeated that at 5-5 to introduce a deciding tie break. Moise clinched it 7-3 to maneuver into the quarter-final.
The younger gun gathered a lift and carried out at his finest within the subsequent duel. He dismantled Pijus Vaitiekunas 6-2, 6-1 in an hour and 21 minutes for his first skilled semi-final. Kouame served effectively and confronted no break factors.
Moise Kouame© Stream screenshot
Battling for his first skilled last, the 16-year-old ousted Saba Purtseladze 6-3, 7-5 in an hour and 28 minutes to jot down historical past books for his technology. The hero of our story served effectively within the opener and clinched it with an early break in sport two.
Moise denied a break level at 2-3 within the second set and defended two set factors in sport ten. He grabbed a break at 5-5, saved a break likelihood within the subsequent one and transformed the third match level to seal the deal and stay on the title course.
World no. 403 Robert Strombachs stood between the younger gun and his first skilled title. The extra skilled participant earned a 6-3, 6-2 win in an hour and 17 minutes, handing Kouame the runner-up prize.
Moise Kouame© Stream screenshot
The Frenchman created two break factors and wasted them. He performed towards six break factors and suffered three breaks, two within the second set. Moise suffered a break within the fourth sport of the opener and fell behind. He saved two set factors in sport eight earlier than Robert wrapped up the opener 6-3.
The higher-ranked participant served effectively within the second set and stored the strain on a teen. He broke Kouame in video games one and three and sealed the take care of a maintain at 5-2.
