Many children fill the Tarbes stands this Wednesday to attend in a schoolyard atmosphere the second round of one of the best French chances of the week, against an eye-catching Bulgarian.

Winner in two sets, Moïse Kouamé, 13, willingly poses with his supporters, barely younger than him, before appearing before the journalists with as much relaxation as maturity.

"It's not a tournament like the others because off the court, it's an incredible atmosphere. It's like a Grand Slam for children," he says.

"But from the moment I enter the field, it's like training. Even if great champions have been there, notably Nadal or Gasquet, it doesn't stress me out".

Since the first edition, in 1983, of what has become the unofficial world championship for 12-14 year olds, several legendary players have put their names on the list.

Moïse Kouamé strikes a pose with a young supporter after his victory in the second round against a catchy Bulgarian © Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP

Michael Chang, winner in 1986, only three years before setting a precocity record at Roland-Garros, and Martina Hingis, crowned two years in a row at Tarbes (1991 and 1992), have notably done a lot for the international notoriety of the tournament. .

Federer, Nadal, Djokovic

Since 2000 and the young Spaniard Rafael Nadal, no winner has subsequently reached the very high level, like the two Frenchmen Quentin Halys (2010) and Rayane Roumane (2014).

With 47 countries participating this year (a record), qualifications in the United States and Asia, and a budget of more than one million euros, the Little Aces remain despite everything, with the American Orange Bowl, a reference. of the category.

Moïse Kouamé celebrates his victory against the Bulgarian Aleksandar Tolev © Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP

"You can find youth tournaments of a similar level in the United States, but none have such a professional environment, with transport for everyone, meals in the restaurant, a parade...", appreciates the Ecuadorian coach Juan José Naranjo.

"Some young people think they'll never turn pro if they don't win here," he adds.

"But many players, like Alcaraz (current world number one) or Rublev (6th), did not pass the first rounds".

The French Cindy Langlais faces the Italian Angelica Sara on the central court, January 25, 2023 in Tarbes © Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP

Novak Djokovic himself went down in the quarters in Tarbes in 2001 and Roger Federer had lost in the eighth in 1995 in the anonymity of court number two, devoid of corridors.

"Not believing yourself to have arrived"

"There is no truth (...) The fact of shining here is far from being a guarantee of success for later", estimates the national technical director Nicolas Escudé.

"And if success is at the end, you have to be very careful not to believe you have arrived, because there is still a long way to go".

In the management office with its austere cinderblock walls, Jean-Claude Knaebel, one of the three co-founders, is above all proud of having preserved, beyond its international appeal, the original state of mind of the Petits aces. .

The American Julieta Pareja warms up under the stands of the Tarbes exhibition center, January 25, 2023 © Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP

"We have the world tennis elite of 14 and under, but it's a popular event", underlines in his accent from the South-West this former boss of the large distribution, very attached to the free event.

"Tarbes is a city that has unfortunately lost its industry. There are many former workers, low-income families..."

Once the future tennis stars have left, first and foremost the Russian from the Mouratoglou Academy Ksenia Efremova, her partnership with Nike and her 42,000 Instagram subscribers, the exhibition center of the Hautes-Pyrénées prefecture will resume its normal course.

The Russian Ksenia Efremova, seeded number 1 among girls, January 25, 2023 in Tarbes © Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP

Other beasts of competition will be exhibited between its corrugated iron walls during a regional agricultural show in March.

"We will have the cows on the court instead of the players," notes Knaebel.

Another lesson in humility.

© 2023 AFP