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Roland-Garros: 'I discovered more about myself today,' savors Kouamé

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Outcome reported
  • Moïse Kouamé reflected on his resilience and mental strength after a major performance at Roland Garros.
  • He credited the crowd for providing energy that helped him push through a long match.
  • Kouamé expressed his dream of winning Roland Garros and other Grand Slams, viewing his current progress as a crucial first step.

Moïse Kouamé described his recent major performance at Roland Garros as a significant step, revealing he discovered more about himself during the demanding match. "I discovered more about myself today," Kouamé stated, reflecting on the physical and mental challenges he overcame. He emphasized the importance of mental fortitude, noting that "when the level is higher, it will be the small details that make me lose or win the match." Kouamé has been dedicating hours to training this specific aspect of his game.

I discovered more about myself today.

— Moïse KouaméReflecting on his performance and the challenges of a long match.

The young player also highlighted the crucial role of the crowd, stating, "The crowd transmitted a lot of energy to me. It allowed me to continue mentally and physically." He admitted to always dreaming of putting on a show on court but is learning to choose the right moments to draw energy from the spectators. "I like this sport for this kind of atmosphere and pressure," he said, noting that playing in front of 10,000 people was not easy but that he felt their support was to help him win, not to stress him.

When the level is higher, it will be the small details that make me lose or win the match.

— Moïse KouaméDiscussing the importance of mental fortitude in high-level competition.

Looking ahead, Kouamé views his current progress as the beginning of a long journey. "As they say, the greatest journeys begin with a first step. This is my first step, and I hope there will be others like it." While winning Roland Garros and other Grand Slams remains a dream, he acknowledged that thinking about winning the tournament this year is "a bit too early." He is happy to be in the third round and aims to win another match, understanding that consistent success requires winning seven times, like the greats.

The crowd transmitted a lot of energy to me. It allowed me to continue mentally and physically.

— Moïse KouaméCrediting the spectators for their support during a difficult match.

Kouamé also spoke about the physical toll of his first five-hour match, admitting he had never trained for that long. "If I was able to win such a match, it means that physically we are working very well with my physical trainer," he said. He recognized that training lacks the stress, crowd, and heat factors present in a real match. "Today, they were all gathered, and I saw that I was able to push myself to my limits. And coming away with the victory makes me smile even more because I worked very hard."

I like this sport for this kind of atmosphere and pressure.

— Moïse KouaméExpressing his enjoyment of playing in intense match environments.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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