French Open: 17-year-old Kouame scripts history on home soil; Walton shocks Medvedev
Paris, March 26
Just a day after Gael Monfils exited in the first round of the French Open, France's young athlete Moise Kouame shocked the former world number three Marin Cilic to become the youngest player to win a main draw match at the competition since 2001.
Kouame, 17, scripted history, beating the 2022 French Open semifinalist 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-1, and the 318-ranked announced his arrival to the grandest stage in style. He is also the first man born in 2008 or later to contest a main-draw Grand Slam match, as per ATP's official website.
During the course of the match, he converted four of seven break points earned against 37-year-old Cilic.
He was icy cool in his composure under the baking sun at the court, becoming the youngest man to win a main-draw match at Roland Garros since Dinu Pescariu in 1991, and the youngest at any Grand Slam since then-16-year-old Bernard Tomic at the 2009 Australian Open.
In March, the 17-year-old secured a wild-card entry to the Miami Open and defeated Zachary Svajda, becoming the youngest match winner in the history of a hard-court tournament ATP Masters 1000 event, which earned him a congratulations from 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. In April, the teenager also was a wild card at the Monte Carlo Masters and got to practice with rising superstar Janni Sinner.
His next clash will be against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, who beat the 20th seed Cameron Norrie.
Adam Walton produced a major upset, stunning world number eight Danil Medvedev. The world number 97 beat Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 after rallying from 2-4 in the decider and clinched his first-ever win against a top-10 opponent.
The 27-year-old Aussie had also shocked Medvedev last year at the Cincinnati Open and saved 16 of 21 break points he faced during a back-and-fourth encounter.
"I am pretty tired right now," Walton said after the match. "It was such an up-and-down match. I got off to a hot start, and I felt like the ebbs and flows of the match were quite large today. I am just really proud of my efforts in the fifth set, to come from a break down to get the win," he said.
"I felt he was playing pretty well," said Walton, on being asked about dropping serve for 1-2 in the fifth set. "He was making a lot of first serves, and he was liking my ball. I knew I just had to hang tough. I thought the game at 1-3, I faced some break points there, and if I go down 1-4 with a double break, it is going to be pretty tough from there. So getting that hold and keeping the score close, I knew if I just kept fighting, maybe I would get a chance. I am glad I did," he added.
Walton goes up 2-1 against Medvedev head-to-head and will play Zachary Svajda next.
— ANI
Reader Comments
What a giant killer! Walton beating Medvedev twice now? That's no fluke. The guy has serious game. And Kouame? Born in 2008 and already winning at Roland Garros? 😳 These young players give me hope for tennis. Here in India, we have some promising juniors too, but they need sponsors and international exposure. Maybe our federation can learn something from the French system.
I remember watching Cilic at his peak—2014 US Open champion. This kid must have studied his game well. The scoreline 7-6, 6-2, 6-1 tells the story: total domination after the first set. Tennis is getting younger and faster. Good to see fresh faces challenging the old guard. Walton vs Medvedev was a rollercoaster, but the Aussie's fighting spirit in the fifth set was something else!
Honestly, it's refreshing to see youngsters taking down the big names. For too long, tennis has been dominated by the same faces. I hope Kouame gets a good run in the tournament—next match against Vallejo won't be easy after Vallejo upset Norrie. As for Walton, what a comeback! Down 2-4 in the decider against Medvedev and still won? That takes guts! 🇮🇳 We could use some of that never-give-up attitude in Indian sports.
The French Open never fails to deliver drama. Monfils out early, then this 17-year-old writes history. I live in Bangalore and follow tennis closely—our own Sumit Nagal has made strides, but the gap between Indian and European talent development is huge. Need more private academies and corporate sponsorship like we see in cricket. Anyway, happy for Kouame and Walton. This is what makes Grand Slams special!
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