Kouame keeps cool in Vallejo epic

The chants of “Merci, Mo-ise” rang around the stands as the 17-year-old became the youngest French player to reach the Roland-Garros men’s singles third round in the Open era.

For tennis fans worldwide, it’s time to get used to hearing ‘game, set, match, Kouame,’ for many years to come.

“When you are down 5-2 in the fifth set, there is a temptation to give up… Last year I watched the final where Carlos Alcaraz saved three match points. He said he never stopped believing,” the world No.318 said. “Today, when I found myself down 3-5, broken in the fifth, I never stopped believing.”

It was that kind of match and on numerous occasions Kouame was conducting his home faithful with gestures and roars to pump up the volume.

“It's something I've always dreamed to do, get the crowd going and making a bit of a show on court,” he added. “Of course, doing this on every point is, I think, too much, so I'm really trying to understand when is the right moment to feel the most energy the crowd is giving me.

“I'm really happy to be in the third round. Of course, the public gave me a lot of energy to keep going physically and mentally. So probably without them, it would maybe be another story.”

With a set on the board, Kouame entered showman mode, connecting with a backhand passing shot out by the geranium plants on the perimeter. With a cheeky smile, he leant over and shook hands with a fan.

The rallies bursting with athleticism, speed and retrieval skills fell in the main to Kouame, whose proactive play brought him a two-set lead.

But Vallejo elevated his game to level and opened up a commanding 5-2 lead in the decider.

Would Kouame run out of faith and resources? Absolutely not.

With missile-like backhands and a crouching volley from below net height, somehow the teenager had restored parity. The pressure kept switching, Vallejo managed to complete a gruelling 15-minute hold to help force a dramatic match tie-break. 

Kouame went 6-1 ahead with scintillating shotmaking. The crowd was relishing the ride, but back came Vallejo again to level at 7-7.

The Frenchman stepped up once more, seized the moment with a forehand pass that dipped to the Paraguayan’s laces, and raised his index finger in a salute to the crowd. He was the victor on Thursday, closing out a cinematic triumph, falling to his back to soak in the moment. 

Just over a month ago, experienced coach Liam Smith joined ‘Team Kouame’ alongside French legend Richard Gasquet and physical trainer Fabien Bertrand.

“I think, first of all, 17 years old, to play five hours, five sets, final-set tiebreak, and to physically and mentally stay together, I think it's extremely impressive and it shows a lot of the inner qualities that Moise has as a competitor,’ said Smith, who told reporters that Kouame had played a five-set match in practice earlier in Paris.

“It’s unusual for a young player of this age and in this kind of an arena to be able to do that. It was an important one to win that in the fifth set for future self-confidence and self-belief. I think it's a really big win.”

The rising star’s maturity stands out in front of the cameras, but what is he like to work with?

“He's a great kid," added Smith. "He has a lot of personality and he enjoys to joke. Actually, we share some similar interests. He loves Formula 1. So do I.

“He's hard-working, but he understands and he has the ability to balance. We have some tough training sessions, but we're still having some fun, which is very important with a 17-year-old. This is a fantastic start, but it's a long road. He has to enjoy the process.”

Smith previously worked to revitalise Gael Monfils’ career (2019-2020), but wants to celebrate France’s latest entertainer as his own act.

“It's an interesting time, isn't it? Obviously, Gael's last Roland-Garros and Moise's first. I always said this before when I worked with Gael: there is only one Gael Monfils. I think it's safe to say there is only one Moise Kouame.”