Kouame reveals his main priority for 2027

Moise Kouame continues to take giant steps in his early tennis career. The 17-year-old has only been in the elite for a year and has already played in some of the most emblematic tournaments on the circuit. The latest was at the Paris Masters 1000, where he received a last-minute invitation and arrived just two days after winning his first title at the Brest Challenger. However, he was unable to defeat Nuno Borges (6-3, 6-1), who entered as a Lucky Loser after Alejandro Davidovich withdrew.

The Frenchman made an appearance in the mixed zone after his defeat to the Portuguese and only drew positive conclusions from his quick presence in Paris, as he confirmed his intention to continue playing Challengers until the end of the season, in addition to aiming to participate in the Next Gen ATP Finals. But he also revealed what his main priority is for 2027.

Kouame praised Borges

"I wasn't bothered at all by the change of opponent. We still had time to prepare our strategy. Nuno played at an impressive level today. He showed a level that was far superior. So, congratulations. For me, it was a great experience. Being able to play on center court at such a young age was something really special. I learned a lot from this match and I hope Nuno goes very far in this tournament."

Kouame admits the central court at ATP Paris didn't weigh on him

"It wasn't more impressive than playing on Suzanne Lenglen at Roland Garros. I was focused on the ball I had to hit, and the ball was coming at me very fast. Unfortunately, I couldn't hold on for long. He really managed to counter me in every aspect of the game, whether it was with his serve, his return, his low backhands, or his attacking forehands."

"I really didn't have much room to maneuver or space to exploit. I repeat, he played very well, and I do not regret anything about this match. I fought hard and still enjoyed it. There were some shots that I really liked. The crowd supported me unconditionally. So, it was a very good experience."

Rock solid 🪨 Nuno Borges eases past Kouame 6-3 6-1 to reach the second round! #RolexParisMasters https://t.co/PW6MHVpNL7

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 3, 2026

Kouame felt the fatigue from the quick trip to Paris

"Yes, it's true that the trip didn't help. I won my title two days ago and now I'm playing again in another city, on a completely different surface. It was a bit difficult to adapt, but I don't doubt that Nuno was simply better. Maybe more training, more hours on this practice court, would have made the difference? Maybe. But when you play a match, you don’t think about how much preparation time you’ve had. You only look at whether you win or lose, you only look at the level. Today, the level wasn't high enough to challenge Nuno. I really don't blame the trip or anything like that. I just think he was better today."

"I didn't come with a specific result in mind. I just wanted to enjoy my first time playing at La Défense. And it went pretty well. I tried a between-the-legs shot that didn't go too far. I had fun. I won some important points and lost others. But today I managed to find that element of enjoyment, and I think that's the most important."

Kouame revealed his main objectives before 2027

"I think I've already taken enough breaks this season, especially after Roland Garros. So I will keep playing. And of course, the Next Gen ATP Finals is something I'm thinking about, something I would really like to play in. There have been some very, very good players who have passed through there, especially Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. So really, being part of that would be a true pleasure. And then we are also going to try to earn points to get closer to the Top 100. And after that, we'll focus on the preseason and Australia."

"That (getting into the Top 100) has always been the goal, of course. The goal has always been to be among the top 100 as soon as possible, to play in the most important tournaments as soon as possible, to win matches as soon as possible. Now, it’s also important to take your time, rise in the rankings, and dedicate time to train properly."

Kouame dreams of playing and winning the Next Gen ATP Finals

"I would say it's an extra goal within the season. At first, in January or February, I wasn't even thinking about it. Then it just happened, and it's an extra. If I qualify and win, it will be fantastic. If I qualify but don't win, it will be an experience. And if I don't qualify, I will return to training in the preseason to have more time to prepare for Australia. But in any case, it will be a good decision and a good option for me," concluded a Moise Kouame who does not want to stop until he enters the elite of world tennis.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Kouame desvela su principal prioridad de cara a 2027