Moïse Kouamé beat Lorenzo Sonego 7-6, 6-4 in the first round of the Grand Prix Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. He was playing on a wildcard. Sonego is world No. 89. It was the last match of the day, which, I’ve learned, means you play when everyone else has already gone home.
Afterwards he went to the mixed zone. Silly question, but why “mixed”? I thought there was a doubles match. No: it’s a corridor where players walk past the journalists. Univers Tennis asked him a question, and he said: “My biggest dream is to have the Grand Slam titles record”.
That surprised me. For three weeks, I’ve been noting down every post-match answer in my notebook. I have a whole page of “we take it one match at a time”, half a page of “the most important thing is the team’s health”, and one line of “I’m happy”. I thought it was compulsory. Like silence during the point.
I’m told it’s tradition, humility, fine, but what does that mean? If you have a dream and someone asks about your dream, you say your dream. I don’t see the fault.
I have a long-term goal too. I don’t say it in the mixed zone, there isn’t one at my club.
I also checked something else: next Monday, whatever happens, he’ll be world No. 176. Whatever happens. Even if he loses. I asked how you can know his ranking before the next match, and I was told about points that drop off and points that come in. I’m digging, like with the 45.
Anyway, I still have a lot to learn, but at least I have a new page in the notebook, and for now he’s alone on it.
It’s true, we checked: We Love Tennis.
