Moise Kouame is enjoying the ‘pressure’ as he battled to a five hour victory over Adolfo Daniel Vallejo to reach the third round of Roland Garros.
The 17 year-old’s Roland Garros ‘dream’ continued as he battled to a 6-3 7-5 3-6 2-6 7-6(10-8) win over the Paraguayan,
It was a match that lasted four hours and 56 minutes in a brutal contest on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
After the historic match Kouame admitted it was a first for him to play for four hours and 56 minutes and praised the crowd for their involvement during the contest, “Playing 4 hour and 56 minutes was definitely a first for me,” Kouame stated in his press conference.
“Even in practice I’ve never played five hours in a row, so I’ve found out a lot of things about myself today. Me being able to win such a game means that our physical preparation is good with the team, so let’s keep going that way, because if I want to win a Grand Slam tournament once, I need to do it seven times in a row.
“So I’ve done it once today. As I say, the longest journey always starts with the first step, so I hope there will be more steps.
“Of course, the public gave me a lot of energy to keep going physically and mentally. So, yeah, probably without them, it would maybe be another story. So, yeah, I’m really happy to have them. Yeah, it was a huge support today, so yeah, thanks to them.”
It was a physical match and a new experience for Kouame who had never played a five set match in fact this was his second best of five set match of his career.
Speaking about his experience Kouame admitted he learned a lot from last year’s Roland Garros final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, “I’ve found out some things about the physical aspect that I was able to keep going for 4 hours and 56 minutes,” the 17 year-old recalled.
“Practice, there is no audience, no crowds, there is no stress. When I was practicing, it was not as hot as today. So those are very important elements. There were all three of them today, and I was able to push myself beyond my own limits. Winning this one is all the more enjoyable. I’ve worked really hard, so I’m being rewarded for my work.
“When it comes to the quotes, when you are down 5-2 in the fifth set, there is a temptation to give up. What I’ve drawn from the finals last year when Carlos Alcaraz was able to come back from three match points down, one should remain confident and should keep fighting and never give up. This is what I’ve done today, so I’m really happy.”
This is all new for the 17 year-old sensation but the Frenchman is already maturing in a quick way as he takes in this experience.
After the match Kouame admitted he is enjoying the new kind of pressure and said that it is his dream to win Roland Garros, “I love this sport, because we get those kinds of atmospheres and for the pressure that you experience,” Kouame analyzed.
“I was playing in front of 10,000 people, right? Yeah. It’s not easy, that’s for sure, but I was able to draw into their energy because they were there to support me, not to stress me. But it is definitely more enjoyable to play in front of 10,000 people than 10. That’s a fact. I’ve really had fun on the courts, and this is what actually matters to me.
“Winning Roland Garros is, of course, a dream, but winning all four is a dream actually, you know. Being world No. 1 is also a dream. I think thinking about winning the tournament is a bit early, I think. But, yeah, I’m really happy to be in the third round, as well, of course, and I’m going to try my best to win another match.”
In the third round Kouame will now face
