Kouame, 16, becomes sixth-youngest qualifier on ATP Tour this century

Montpellier

Kouame, 16, becomes sixth-youngest qualifier on ATP Tour this century

Frenchman advanced to the main draw in Montpellier on Monday

Presse Sports / JEAN BAPTISTE AUTISSIER

The 16-year-old Moise Kouame in action on Monday in Montpellier. By ATP Staff

Frenchman Moise Kouame became the sixth-youngest man to qualify for an ATP Tour event since 2000 on Monday when he overcame countryman Clement Chidekh 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-3 at the Open Occitanie in Montpellier.

The wild card, aged 16 years and 10 months, defeated Elias Ymer in the first qualifying round and will now make his main draw debut against eighth seed and last year’s finalist Aleksandar Kovacevic. Kouame won two ITF World Tennis Tour titles last month.

Youngest Men to Qualify for ATP Tour event since 2000

Player Event Age Richard Gasquet Monte-Carlo, 2002 15 years, 9 months Ryan Harrison Houston, 2008 15 years, 11 months Richard Gasquet Adelaide, 2003 16 years, 6 months Rudolf Molleker Hamburg, 2017 16 years, 8 months Rafael Nadal Monte-Carlo, 2003 16 years, 10 months Moise Kouame Montpellier, 2026 16 years, 10 months

Kouame is the No. 552 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. The Frenchman competed in ATP Tour qualifying for the first time last year in Madrid, where he fell to Botic van de Zandschulp.

Watch Monday Extended Highlights:

In main draw action on Day 1, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard retired from his match against Arthur Gea due to a eye injury. Gea led 5-3, 30/0 in the opening set when he hit a passing shot to Mpetshi Perricard's backhand volley. The ball bounced from Mpetshi Perricard's racquet into his eye. The former No. 29 player in the PIF ATP Rankings immediately fell to his knees and took a medical timeout.

The players contested just one more point, because Mpetshi Perricard retired one point after returning to the court. "It's never easy to see a friend [injured]," Gea said. "It's never easy to see this."

Roberto Bautista Agut saved two match points en route to a 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 win against Christopher O'Connell. Bautista Agut now leads the Australian 2-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

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