Montpellier
Kovacevic halts 16-year-old Kouame’s breakthrough bid in Montpellier
American next seeks revenge on Droguet, who beat him last week
February 04, 2026
Presse Sports / JEAN BAPTISTE AUTISSIER
Defending finalist Aleksandar Kovacevic defeats Moise Kouame on Wednesday in Montpellier.
By ATP Staff
Eighth seed Aleksandar Kovacevic spoiled the hopes of 16-year-old Moise Kouame on Wednesday at the Open Occitanie, where the French teenager was aiming for his first tour-level win. Kovacevic, a finalist last year in Montpellier, rallied to a 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2 victory after one hour, 54 minutes.
Kovacevic won 82 per cent of his first-serve points (41/50), according to Infosys ATP Stats, and did not face a break point until his final service game of the match, which he erased before applying the finishing touches on his fourth tour-level win of 2026.
“He was outplaying me in the first set,” Kovacevic said of Kouame. “I didn’t feel super comfortable, first match of the week. And then I got settled in a little bit and I think he dropped his level just a tad. It’s tough to play a player like that, I’ve never really seen him play at all, but definitely impressed.”
Kouame, was seeking to become the seventh man this century to win a tour-level match before his 17th birthday. The teenager advanced through qualifying, becoming the youngest man to qualify for an ATP Tour event since Rudolf Molleker in 2017.
The American will next face another French qualifier, Titouan Droguet, who beat Kovacevic 7-6(4), 7-6(8) last week at the Quimper Challenger.
