Teenage French Open breakout Moise Kouamé said he may ask for a morning start on Saturday so he can watch Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal. The 17-year-old has become one of the stories of the tournament in Paris after reaching the third round at Roland Garros, making him the youngest player since 1989 to get that far at the clay-court Grand Slam.
Kouamé advanced with a dramatic second-round victory over Adolfo Vallejo on Thursday, a match that lasted 4 hours and 59 minutes and further underlined the teenager’s remarkable run. His progress has drawn wide attention because he is still early in his professional career but has already shown the stamina and composure needed to compete deep into a major tournament.
After his win, Kouamé spoke to TNT Sports and was asked about a possible scheduling clash between his third-round match and the Champions League final, which will see PSG play Arsenal on Saturday at 18:00 CET. The question clearly caught his attention, but the French teenager quickly revealed his priority as a passionate PSG supporter.
“I might request a morning match, to be honest,” Kouamé said. He added that he “really” wants to watch the final because it is a huge match for Paris Saint-Germain and especially meaningful to him as a fan of the club. At the same time, he said he feels confident enough that if his tennis match were played at the same time, PSG would still “finish the job.”
The possibility of a clash between the two events has added another layer of interest to Kouamé’s story, with the teenager balancing a breakthrough tennis campaign and a major football occasion involving his favorite team. His comments have resonated with fans because they reflect both the excitement of a young athlete on a surprise run and the passion of a supporter facing a difficult choice between two major sporting moments.
Kouamé is scheduled to meet 36th-ranked Alejandro Tabilo in the third round. The order of play for Saturday is expected to be announced later on Friday afternoon, which will determine whether the youngster gets the morning slot he hinted at requesting.
For now, Kouamé’s rise at the French Open continues to capture attention on and off the court. His deep run has already made him one of the standout young names of the tournament, and his desire to watch PSG’s biggest match of the season has only added to the sense of personality and intrigue around his remarkable Paris campaign.
