Moise Kouame of France secured his first ATP Tour main draw victory on Thursday, defeating American Zachary Svajda in three sets at the Miami Masters 1000. The 17-year-old won 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 after a physically demanding match in the Florida heat.
Kouame entered the tournament with a wildcard, following strong performances on lower-level circuits. His first-round opponent, Svajda, is ranked in the top 100, making the Frenchman’s victory a notable achievement.
The match began nervously for Kouame, who faced an early break point but held his serve. He broke Svajda in the fifth game but struggled to consolidate, with inconsistent first serves and a break point to save. Svajda recovered, winning the first set 7-5 after Kouame’s serve faltered.
In the second set, Kouame responded with improved serving and capitalised on several unforced errors from Svajda. Despite appearing physically spent, he held serve and took the set 6-4. A brief visit from the physio gave him a chance to recover before the deciding set.
The third set started with Kouame breaking his opponent immediately. While cramps limited his movement, he remained strong on serve and avoided overexertion during rallies. Svajda faced difficulties, ultimately making a double fault on match point. Kouame secured the win 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
With this victory, Kouame advances to the second round to face Jiri Lehecka. The win marks a significant milestone in the career of the young French player and signals his arrival on the ATP Tour.
Remember his name! 👏@moisekouame09 becomes the youngest man to win an ATP Masters 1000 match since Rafael Nadal in 2003!
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 19, 2026
He defeated Svajda 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/Whl7EmBNA6
