French teenager Moïse Kouamé has announced himself on the grand slam stage with a stunning 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-1 victory over former US Open champion Marin Cilic in the first round of the French Open. At 17, Kouamé becomes the youngest player to win a men's singles grand slam match since 2009, and the youngest at Roland Garros since 1991.
Kouamé, who turned 17 in March, showcased a powerful serve reaching 139mph and exceptional athleticism, moving swiftly around the court and hitting solid groundstrokes off both wings. His composure under pressure was notable, as he broke Cilic's serve repeatedly and closed out the match in straight sets. The crowd of 5,000 responded with a spontaneous rendition of La Marseillaise as he moved two sets ahead.
This result builds on a promising year for Kouamé, who won an ITF title in Bressuire and qualified for his first ATP main draw in Montpellier in February. He also reached the semi-finals of a Challenger in Lille and received wildcards for Masters 1000 events in Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid. His progress has been closely followed by French tennis fans and media, with France still seeking its first male grand slam champion since Yannick Noah in 1983.
Kouamé acknowledged the hype but remained focused on his performance. 'I’m 17, and I have won one grand slam match,' he said. 'I didn’t care about his age. I just wanted to give him shots that were as complicated to play as possible.' Cilic, 37, struggled in the searing heat and was unable to match the teenager's intensity.
In other matches, sixth seed Daniil Medvedev suffered a shock first-round exit, losing 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 to Australian Adam Walton. British No. 1 Cameron Norrie retired from his match against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay, citing a rib injury. Top seed Jannik Sinner began his campaign with a comfortable win over a French opponent.
