France's 17-year-old Moise Kouame recorded his first ATP victory at the 2026 Miami Open, defeating American Zachary Svajda 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. The win advances him to the Round of 64 and makes him the youngest Masters 1000 match winner since Rafael Nadal in 2003.
Moise Kouame, born on March 6, 2009, in Sarcelles near Paris, became the first player born in 2009 to secure an ATP victory. At 17, he joined an elite group, with only Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet achieving Masters 1000 wins at a younger age since the format began. Kouame plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand and started tennis at age five. He trained at Creps de Poitiers, then at 13 moved to the Justine Henin Academy in Belgium and later the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, also linked to Tennis Club du Perreux. His brother Michael, who played college tennis, introduced him to the sport. Kouame holds French nationality, with Ivorian descent from his father and Cameroonian from his mother, Suzanne Nsemba; he has four elder siblings. No information is available on his relationship status. Earlier in 2026, still 16, he qualified for the Open Occitanie main draw in Montpellier—the sixth-youngest since 2000—earning $7,788 despite a first-round exit. He reached the Lille Challenger semi-finals ($12,589), won M25 Hazebrouck and M15 Bressuire, peaking at No. 397. The Miami wildcard win earned $36,110, boosting him 66 spots to No. 385, the youngest in the top 900. Next, he faces 21st seed Jiri Lehecka of Czechia.
