In the world of professional tennis, making it to a final is a significant milestone, marking a player’s arrival on the grand stage. This achievement becomes even more monumental when accomplished at an incredibly young age. Such is the case of French tennis sensation, Moise Kouame. Barely three days past his 16th birthday, Kouame made history by playing in his first Futures final in Sharm El Sheikh.
This remarkable accomplishment not only established Kouame as the first player born in 2009 to reach this feat but also meant that he outpaced Spanish prodigy, Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz had stepped into his first professional final at the age of 16 years and two months back in July 2019, making Kouame two months younger at the time of his first professional final. Though Alcaraz triumphed in his debut, Kouame fell short and will have to wait for another shot at glory.
Just a week ago, Kouame had made it to the quarter-final at the same event. This time, however, he marched on to earn four impressive victories. His journey began with a first-round match against Aleksandre Bakshi, which he led 5-1 before Bakshi was forced to retire.
In the second round, Kouame faced a stern test in the form of Toby Martin. In a grueling match lasting three hours and three minutes, Kouame rallied from a 6-2, 4-2 deficit to win 2-6, 7-6, 7-6. His resilience was on full display as he clawed his way back into the match, forcing a tie-break to decide the outcome. Emerging victorious in the tie-break 7-3, Kouame advanced to the quarter-final.
Kouame’s next challenge was Pijus Vaitiekunas, whom he dispatched in just an hour and 21 minutes with a 6-2, 6-1 scoreline. This victory catapulted him into his first professional semi-final and further showcased his serving prowess as he faced no break points.
Saba Purtseladze was Kouame’s opponent in the semi-final. The 16-year-old made short work of him, winning 6-3, 7-5 in an hour and 28 minutes to carve his name in the history books. He served impeccably in the opening set, earning an early break in the second game. Despite facing a break point at 2-3 in the second set, Kouame held his nerve, defended two set points in the tenth game, and sealed victory.
The final hurdle in Kouame’s path to his first professional title was world no. 403, Robert Strombachs. Despite the Frenchman’s valiant efforts, the more seasoned Strombachs secured a 6-3, 6-2 win in an hour and 17 minutes. Kouame, on the other hand, had two break points but failed to capitalize on them. He faced six break points and endured three breaks, two of which came in the second set.
Kouame’s performance in Sharm El Sheikh is a testament to his potential and a clear sign that he is a rising star to keep an eye on. While he may have fallen short of the title this time around, his journey to the final, achieved at such a young age, is a feat worth celebrating. The Frenchman’s story is just beginning, and the tennis world eagerly awaits his next move.