Kouame: the youngest to defeat a Grand Slam champion at Roland Garros

It was only last month that France’s Moise Kouame hit the headlines after winning the third professional title of his career – and season – on the ITF World Tennis Tour at M25 Santa Margherita di Pula.

By winning that title aged 17 years and 44 days, the teenager became the youngest French player to win three ITF World Tennis Tour men’s singles titles since Richard Gasquet in May 2002.

Kouame today recorded the first main draw match-win of his career by defeating former US Open champion Marin Cilic, 7-6(4) 6-2 6-1, in the opening round of the men’s singles at Roland Garros.

This victory has seen him become the youngest player in the Open Era to defeat a Grand Slam champion at Roland Garros and the youngest man to win a main draw match at Roland Garros since 1991.

Here are some photos of Kouame in junior tennis, including competing for France at the 2024 Davis Cup Junior Finals as he continued his progression along the player pathway –  to the professional ranks and now a Grand Slam.