Mahut asks for patience with Kouamé: "He is going to be very good, and we will hear a lot about him, but for now, let's leave him alone"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 19 Feb 2026 | 21.50

Mahut asks for patience with Kouamé: "He is going to be very good, and we are going to hear a lot about him, but for now, let's leave him in peace." Photo: Getty Images

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All the spotlights are beginning to focus on Moise Koaume, who at 16 years old has become the first tennis player born in 2009 to reach the quarterfinals of a Challenger tournament, specifically at the Lille Challenger. However, a former tennis player and fellow countryman like Nicolas Mahut wants to lower the hype and prevent additional pressure on the young player: "I don't see the point in writing articles when he's in the quarterfinals of a Challenger. Yes, if he wins the tournament, we'll talk about it. He has won Futures tournaments, that's good, but can't we leave him alone? He hasn't achieved anything!"

"We don't have to start at 17... Let him become a champion, let him grow. It's fine to be interested, yes, but talking about him as soon as he wins a match seems a bit exaggerated to me. He's going to win in Challengers, he's going to be very good very quickly, and we're going to hear a lot about him. But for now, let's leave him alone," requested the former World No. 37 in the ATP rankings.

🚨 Nicolas Mahut calls for more restraint regarding French hopeful Moïse Kouame:

🗣️🇫🇷 "I don't see the point in writing articles when he's in the quarterfinals of a Challenger. Yes, if he wins the tournament, we'll talk about it. He has won Futures, it's good, but is it... pic.twitter.com/k2gQnzD5dO
— Univers Tennis 🎾 (@UniversTennis) February 19, 2026