Frenchman Benoit Paire is one of the most unruly tennis players on the ATP circuit. At 31, the player, number 31 in the ranking, has been more news in recent months for his episodes on and off the court than for his results, since he has lost 13 defeats in his last 15 games.
The last of these defeats was in the first round of the Acapulco tournament against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. Far from being worried about it, Paire, in an interview for L'Équipe, affirmed that with this defeat he will have more time to enjoy himself before playing the Masters 1,000 in Miami. “I lost in the first round, that's better. I'll be able to leave the bubble quickly and enjoy a few days before playing in Miami. I can't wait to get to the beach or the pool. Tennis is not my priority right now. I just want to get out of the bubble, that's my goal in all tournaments “
The Frenchman expressed his demotivation in the world of tennis since he says he feels very affected by the bubbles in the many circuits of the tournament. “I'm not happy at all on the track. My parents tell me 'You are not the Benoit Paire we know.' Those who love tennis, who only have that in mind and train 24 hours a day are happy and the bubble changes nothing for them. But for those of us who like the environment, life, freedom, eating and enjoying ourselves, this is very hard. Gael Monfils was very sad in Australia and Shapovalov has also said that he is playing few tournaments to be in bubble as little as possible. This circuit is not for us. But the truth is that I am better here than in France, where we must confine ourselves at six in the afternoon. “
Paire also claimed that he only plays tournaments to win money and bragged about making more money in tournaments where he has lost in the first round than other players who win titles in smaller categories. “When I go to tournaments I arrive, win some money and go to the next tournament. I do my job. The surprising thing about the current circuit is that you can lose a lot of profits. If you win an ATP 250 tournament you get $ 30,000 when I, in Some first round tournaments, I have taken $ 10,000 despite losing. Why go crazy to win a little more? “
The French tennis player himself confessed that he has stopped training and that right now he does not have any team with him. “I have stopped training and picking up the racket. It doesn't make sense to pay someone on the circuit now. Now I don't have a coach or a physical trainer. I am not training and I'm not ready to play big games. “