Kouame shows his ambition: "My dream is to win 25 Grand Slam titles"

Moise Kouame has something that sets him apart from other young players with great potential. That compendium of intangibles that gives a special touch of competitiveness to the tennis players destined for glory is driving him in a maturation process guided by Richard Gasquet. He seems destined for very high levels of success, as he expressed in Lyon.

At just 17 years old and with an evident margin for improvement in all his strokes, Moise Kouame stands out as one of the great star projects of world tennis. His overflowing charisma, physical abilities that are hard to compare with any other boy his age, an infinite winning mentality, and that innate ability possessed by only a few to elevate their level at key moments have thrilled all of France.

Kouame is already in the top-200, progressing every week and aiming to play in the Next Gen ATP Finals

Advised by Richard Gasquet, someone who knows perfectly what it is like to be a prodigy, he is trying to downplay current results in favor of developing his tennis. He combines Challenger tournaments, with some ITF events and sporadic appearances at the highest level. What he did at Roland Garros placed him in the media spotlight, and he wants to end the season settled in the top-200 and demonstrating that next year he can more frequently approach the elite.

Seeing his progress at the ATP 250 Lyon 2026 was one of the main attractions of the tournament, and his victory over Lorenzo Sonego has sparked a wave of excitement and hope among fans. He is immersed in the fight to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals 2026 at the end of the year, which could be a great showcase for his tennis and an important base from which to continue building a very promising career.

This is how Kouame spoke after his victory over Sonego in Lyon

Kouame reflects on his victory over Sonego in Lyon

"A victory here, at home, so to speak, is always more exciting. The crowd has been incredible with me and has given me a huge boost in the most challenging moments of the match. When I play in France, the atmosphere helps me a lot.

I am someone who likes to receive good energy, positive energy, and I have found it in all the tournaments I have played in France, even earlier this year when I was still an unknown. France brings me luck. I feel that the connection with the French audience arises more naturally. Of course, I have to try to find that same energy in other places and learn to generate it myself. I am sure that will come with time and experience."

Moise Kouame is inspired by Alcaraz in terms of on-court attitude

"What I liked most about this match is that I managed to stay calm and smile many times. It was one of the aspects I wanted to improve. When you focus on the present, you stop worrying about the score and only think about winning.

The match was very demanding. I saw that my opponent was putting a lot of pressure on me, especially in the second set, but I tried to enjoy myself and find answers to what he was proposing. And I found them. I am very proud to have enjoyed the match and achieved victory."

The great historical goal that Kouame is not afraid to verbalize

"My biggest dream is to achieve the record for Grand Slam titles. Right now, the record is at 24, so I want to reach 25. That is why the results I achieve at this moment are not the most important to me; what matters most is to progress in the long term.

Of course, I need results to keep improving. I am not going to win 25 Grand Slams by being number three in the world, that is clear. For me, the most important thing is to maintain a constant and lasting progression."

🗣️ « MON PLUS GRAND RÊVE, C’EST D’AVOIR LE RECORD DE GRANDS CHELEMS. » 🔥 Moïse Kouame, au micro d’Univers Tennis à Lyon, rêve déjà TRÈS GRAND à 17 ans. 💎🇫🇷 https://t.co/s2XVxkA40C

— Univers Tennis 🎾 (@UniversTennis) October 19, 2026

Moise Kouame, winning mentality or misplaced arrogance?

From the very moment those words left Moise Kouame's mouth, social media erupted in quick judgments about what it means for a 17-year-old to express his aspirations in this way.

To reach the top, you have to believe in the possibility of doing so, and verbalizing it this way shows a complete disregard for what others might say, an ambition without limits, and a winning gene that constitutes one of the great virtues of tennis legends. You either have it or you don’t, and the Frenchman seems to possess it.

Achieving a feat like the one he proposes will depend on many factors, but it is necessary to applaud the courage, audacity, or innocence, call it what you will, of such a young and promising player. Moise Kouame promises to give a lot to talk about with his tennis and his statements, in a maturation process that is on the right track and is exciting for any fan of this sport.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Kouame muestra su ¿ambición?: "Mi sueño es ganar 25 títulos de Grand Slam"