Moise Kouame has arrived.
The 17-year-old French prodigy, earmarked as a future star on the ATP Tour, secured the greatest victory of his career to date against Marin Cilic on Tuesday.
In front of a raucous, partisan crowd on Court Simonne-Mathieu, Kouame overcame a 20-year, five-month age gap to defeat Cilic 7-6, 6-2, 6-1 in his Roland Garros main draw debut.
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The second Slam of the year…
Kouame has now become the youngest man to reach the second round in Paris since 1991.
The youngster has also made more history in Paris.
Moise Kouame makes tennis history in Paris
Kouame has made tennis history: he is the first player born in 2009 to win a Grand Slam main draw match.
Remarkably, Kouame has done so against Marin Cilic – the 2014 US Open champion and former world number three.
Remarkably, no player born in 2008 is yet to win a Grand Slam main draw match.
It really was a superb performance from the 17-year-old, and he is now set to rise 71 places to world number 247, as per the ATP’s live rankings.
Speaking ahead of his first match in Paris, Kouame described the ‘privilege’ of playing in the event at such a young age.
“It is a privilege for me to be here that young,” the teenager told reporters in the French capital.
“It’s an opportunity not everyone gets to have. I’m going to try to enjoy it as much as possible.”
| Year Born | First player to win a Grand Slam main draw match | Tournament |
| 2000 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | 2019 Wimbledon |
| 2001 | Jannik Sinner | Australian Open 2020 |
| 2002 | Lorenzo Musetti | Roland Garros 2021 |
| 2003 | Carlos Alcaraz | Australian Open 2021 |
| 2004 | Luca Van Assche | Roland Garros 2023 |
| 2005 | Juncheng Shang | Australian Open 2023 |
| 2006 | Joao Fonseca | Australian Open 2021 |
| 2007 | Federico Cina | Roland Garros 2026 |
| 2008 | – | – |
| 2009 | Moise Kouame | Roland Garros 2026 |
Kouame will hope to maintain his excellent form when he contests his second-round match later this week.
He will play 20th seed Cameron Norrie or Adolfo Daniel Vallejo.
Moise Kouame sets a new Open Era record after defeating Marin Cilic
As per statisticians OptaAce, Moise Kouame is now the youngest player in the Open Era to defeat a Grand Slam champion in Men’s Singles at Roland Garros.
At 17 years and 81 days, Kouame has eclipsed Michael Chang’s astonishing feat at the 1989 French Open.
Chang defeated two Grand Slam champions on his way to the 1989 Roland Garros title.
Youngest players in the Open Era to defeat a Grand Slam champion in Men’s Singles at Roland Garros
- Moise Kouame – 17 years and 81 days [2026]
- Michael Chang – 17 years and 97 days [1989]
- Guy Forget – 17 years and 140 days [1982]
- Boris Becker – 17 years and 187 days [1985]
- Mats Wilander – 17 years and 275 days [1982]
At 17 years and 97 days, Chang defeated Ivan Lendl in the round of 16. The American went on to beat seven-time major champion Stefan Edberg in the final.
Seven years later, Chang qualified for two more Grand Slam finals in Melbourne and Paris.
He was defeated on both occasions.
