Miami, USA

This French teen matched Rafael Nadal with his first-round Miami Open win

Moise Kouame, 17, became the fourth-youngest man to win a Masters 1000 match, and youngest since Nadal in 2003.



France's Moise Kouame looks on as he plays against Poland's Tomasz Berkieta during their men's junior singles quarter final match on day twelve of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 6, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP) (Photo by BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images)
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Remember the name: Moise Kouame.

The newly-17-year-old Frenchman (his birthday was March 6) made recent history with a first-round win at the Miami Open on Thursday, becoming the youngest man to record a match win at Masters 1000 level since Rafael Nadal in 2003, and fourth-youngest ever.

The teen's 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win over American Zacahary Svajada also put his name into the history books as the first ATP player born in 2009 to win a tour match.

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He was five points away from losing just his second-ever ATP main-draw match as, serving at 3-4 in the second set, the 6-foot-3 right-hander fell behind 0-40. But he won 14 of 16 points from there to push the match the distance, and overcame the onset of cramps in the final stages to secure the two-hour, 17-minute win.

Moise Kouame, 17, makes recent history in first ATP win | Miami highlights3:58

Speaking to Tennis Channel after the match, a stunned Kouame, who came into the tournament ranked No. 385, couldn't stop smiling. 

"It's big, it's huge," he said. 

"It's cool because I'm on the list with all these champs," he added. "It brings me a lot of confidence and shows me I'm on the right path, I just need to keep working."

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Kouame's goals are also "big" and "huge." He hopes to become world No. 1 and win Grand Slam titles.

"I hope one day it won't be dreams and it will be reality. This is really what I'm working for," he said.

Someone who has achieved those things has already taken notice. A starstruck Kouame also revealed that Novak Djokovic sent him a congratulatory message on Instagram.

"I'm so nervous; I don't know what to answer!" he confessed. "Imagine having your idol DM you like this ... this is too much for me! It's the coolest thing ever."

Kouame hopes to double his career total of ATP main-draw wins when he faces No. 21 seed Jiri Lehecka in the second round.