The 15-year-old Moise Kouame earned a wild card for the Open Saint-Brieuc Armor Agglomration Challenger in St. Brieuc. The young gun is world no. 52 on the junior ranking list, having won three titles and reached the Roland Garros quarter-final.
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Kouame made his professional debut against Jules Marie and failed to become the first player born in 2009 on the ATP ranking list after a 6-4, 6-0 loss in an hour and 11 minutes. Moise played well on the return at the beginning of the match, kicking off the action with a break and creating another opportunity at 1-1.
However, the more experienced player took charge after that, rattling off the final eight games and sailing over the top. A teenager made a reliable start and generated three break points. Kouame attacked and converted the second with a fine attack, drawing the rival's mistake and moving in front.
The 15-year-old squandered three game points in the second game and lost serve after a double fault.
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15-year-old Moise Kouame made his professional debut at St.
Brieuc Challenger.
Jules sprayed a backhand error in the third game, facing the third and last break point and denying it after the rival's forehand error at the net. The more experienced player held after a forehand winner, and they both served well in the upcoming ones.
Moise held at 30 in the fourth game and welcomed the rival's mistake two games later for 3-3. A teenager fired up his forehand to secure the eighth game, staying neck and neck with a top-300 rival. Marie held after a deuce in the ninth game and made a push on the return in the next one.
Kouame placed a backhand long and offered his rival two set points. The young gun denied them and missed a game point after Jules' crafty attack at the net.
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Brieuc Challenger 2024
Stream screenshotThe older Frenchman generated the third set point and seized it after a loose forehand from his young opponent, bringing the opening home 6-4 in 47 minutes and gathering a boost.
Marie held at 15 at the beginning of the second set and welcomed the rival's drop shot error in the next one for a break and a 2-0 advantage. Moise netted a forehand in the fourth game, dropping serve for the third straight time and falling 4-0 behind.
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Jules closed the fifth game after a deuce and made a push on the return in the next one from 15-40. A teenager saved a match point with a service winner before missing a forehand on the second, experiencing a bagel and finishing on the losing side on his professional debut.
