Can 17-year-old Moïse Kouamé Receive His $200,000 French Open Prize? Unraveling the Reward of the Tennis Star.
Moïse Kouamé is probably going to leave Roland-Garros significantly wealthier. Following all, the 17-year-old tennis player defeated Adolfo Vallejo on May 28 to go to the French Open men's singles third round. Although the accomplishment carries a guaranteed €187,000 in rewards (about $218,000 USD), questions have been raised over an age restriction on the monies.
On the May 28 episode of Andy Roddick's Served Media podcast, producer Mike Hayden said that Moïse "can't even collect his winnings 'cause he's not 18 yet."
"There's a French law that you can't collect the prize money until you turn 18," he stated. "He better be getting a f--king interest rate while the government keeps that bag."
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Daryl Monfils, Moïse's agent, informed Front Office Sports via email that the statements were "wrong information" although didn't elaborate.
The sportsman, who was the youngest player to advance to the third round of a men's singles Grand Slam since Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2003, will still take home the trophy.
The adolescent probably won't be taking the money home himself because Article 382 of the Civil Code forbids minors from managing their assets unless they are formally emancipated. His parents, however, are able to access the funds.
"Legal administration belongs to the parents," in accordance with France's Civil Code Article 382. "If parental authority is exercised jointly by both parents, each of them is a legal administrator. In other cases, legal administration belongs to the parent who exercises parental authority."
Moïse's strongest assistance has been his family, which includes his brother Michaël Kouamé, a tennis player, and mother Suzanne Nsemba.
"My mom has also been one of the biggest inspirations in life for me," just this month, he informed ATP Media. "She has been through difficult situations and now she's here in Monte-Carlo with her son playing one of the biggest tournaments on the calendar."
"Also, my brother, because he was the one who introduced me to tennis," he added. "My dad and my sister, of course. My family is my support, my base."
Moïse is particularly appreciative because he intends to stay on that court for as far as necessary.
"It was instant love," he went on to say. "I didn't force it. At first it was just for fun but the turning point came when you ask yourself if this is something I want to do for the next 30 or 40 years and the answer was yes."