French teenager Moïse Kouamé advanced to the third round of Roland-Garros on Thursday, May 28, 2026, after a five-set victory over Paraguayan Adolfo Daniel Vallejo on the Suzanne-Lenglen court.
The 17-year-old won the match with a 10-8 super tie-break after nearly five hours of play, drawing cheers from the 10,000 spectators.
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Kouamé, who started the year ranked 833rd and has since climbed to 214th, will face Chilean Alejandro Tabilo on Saturday for a spot in the round of 16.
Coach and Mentors Praise Mental Strength
New coach Liam Smith highlighted Kouamé's mental resilience, noting that specific training has helped him transition from the junior circuit to professional ranks.
Former world number one Justine Henin, who trained Kouamé before he moved to the Patrick Mouratoglou academy, described him as a hard worker eager to learn and improve.
Patrick Mouratoglou, who coached Serena Williams and Coco Gauff, called Kouamé one of the best talents he has seen at his academy, stating that his achievements at 17 are uncommon.
French Davis Cup coach Laurent Raymond praised the support of former player Richard Gasquet, who serves as Kouamé's primary advisor.
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Gasquet emphasized the need for French players to return to the top 10, saying the country must re-establish itself as a major tennis nation.
Kouamé's mother said her priority is her children's happiness, not pressure, adding that everything can stop or become a beautiful story.
The teenager has maintained a disciplined outlook, once saying that sometimes you have to win even when playing badly.
After his Monte-Carlo tournament win in April, he dismissed media pressure about his rapid rise, stating that nothing goes too fast.
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Looking ahead, Kouamé joked he would prefer a morning match slot to avoid conflict with the Champions League final featuring his favorite club, Paris Saint-Germain.
