Moise Kouame’s ‘goal is World No. 1’, but first up: Miami debut | ATP Tour

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Kouame’s ‘objective is World No. 1’, however first up: Miami debut

17-year-old Frenchman previews his main-draw ATP Masters 1000 debut

March 19, 2026

Moise Kouame is about to tick off one thing many younger tennis participant desires about: stepping onto court docket at an ATP Masters 1000 occasion.

The 17-year-old Frenchman has acquired a wild card into the Miami Open presented by Itau, the place he’ll make his main-draw debut at this degree. For Kouame, the youngest participant contained in the Prime 900 of the PIF ATP Rankings, it’s a second he’s wanting to embrace.

“I gained my first tournaments on the circuit, which was actually enjoyable, then I certified for my first ATP 250 occasion [in Montpellier],” Kouame, who’s at a career-high World No. 385, stated in a social media post. “Now taking part in in Miami is simply unbelievable. Miami is Miami, you already know? There’s no different [place] like Miami. It’s a very cool place.

“It’s going to be a giant expertise for me taking part in these guys, so I’m going to try to put every thing into it.”

Kouame has picked up pace throughout his rise in latest months. The 6’3” teen opened his 2026 season by successful back-to-back ITF World Tennis Tour titles earlier than qualifying for his first tour-level occasion on the ATP 250 on residence soil in Montpellier.

Now comes one other step in his fast-moving journey. In Miami, Kouame will start his marketing campaign Thursday in opposition to American qualifier Zachary Svajda — their first Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly. It’s a probability for the younger Frenchman to check himself in opposition to the world’s greatest on one of many Tour’s greatest levels.

“My objective is to be World No. 1 and win a number of Grand Slam [titles]. That is what I’m coaching for,” Kouame stated. “Now it’s a dream, and I hope later it will not be, however it will likely be actual.”

Kouame first picked up a racquet at 5 years outdated after watching his older brother play, and it didn’t take lengthy earlier than he discovered a tennis hero to observe.

“Watching my brother play, I simply needed to play, so I grabbed a racquet,” Kouame stated of his brother Michael. “My idol was Novak Djokovic rising up. I used to be simply so amazed after I was watching him play — his fashion and resilience was simply unbelievable.”