Tennis: spitting, middle finger, repeated defeats ... Benoît Paire's long ordeal

Ridiculous or pathetic for some, depressed or depressing for others ... For the past few months, Benoît Paire, 31, has curled up in a self-destructive spiral, racket in hand.

The legendary rants of Avignon, which could sometimes amuse the gallery, no longer make anyone laugh.

The world No.29 (who would be beyond 160th place if the standings had not been frozen) is nothing more than a grim caricature of himself, who wanders the courts like a lost soul.

In line with the last few weeks (he has lost 12 out of 14 games since August 2020), his South American tour "to get down some beers in the sun" is turning into a hangover.

Both on the results and on (bad) manners.

After winning a meager match against the 1165th world in Cordoba, spat on a line and completely sold off his first round in Buenos Aires, the Habs seemed totally apathetic, even worrying, sinking against the 410th at ATP as soon as they entered the race. competing in Santiago de Chile.

As if he no longer had the taste for anything as soon as he put on his player outfit.

“The ATP circuit has become sad, boring and ridiculous.

I know, you're going to say:

You don't realize how lucky you are, blah blah,

but playing in closed stadiums without any atmosphere, that's not why I play tennis, he said. posted a little later on Instagram.

Having to stay either at the hotel or at the tennis club and being forbidden to go out on pain of exclusion and a fine, where is the pleasure of traveling?

For me, playing tennis has become a tasteless job… ”

"I often feel ashamed on a court"

Before that, Paire had greeted critics with a subtle middle finger on social networks to support the more than 8.5 million dollars raised in 14 years among the pros (225 wins for 244 losses).

And sipped a few alcoholic drinks with friends after the defeat was over to establish his reputation… and justify his desire to use a cocktail glass as the logo of an upcoming clothing brand.

"The current situation is perhaps easier to live for the top players, who are in a kind of bubble with their staff all year round," observes Sophie Huguet, sports psychologist.

Others really suffer from the lack of social life on the circuit.

"

Finally, it's worth it to suck 😘🖕🏻 pic.twitter.com/PbWsGQLa1A

- pair benoit (@benoitpaire) March 4, 2021

“I often feel ashamed on a court, he told us in 2020. When I go too far, it's because I'm not well.

There are times in my life when I'm not proud and it shows.

If I am not well in my life, I am not well on the court, I cannot make sense of things, put aside the private.

I need to be happy.

Otherwise I can play a game, not a game.

"

But then, why persist at the risk of digging deeper and deeper in the center of the (beaten) earth?

“I'm going because I have to go, it's my job and I always tell myself that maybe it will be okay,” he continued.

But when I realize from the first game that things are not going well and that I won't be able to change anything… After, the outcome of the match, I don't give a fuck.

It's only my business, that's not what matters.

It's just tennis.

Like everyone else, my job, I sometimes don't want to do it.

"

Not spared since the takeover

Character "ultra sensitive who walks with pleasure and envy" according to his former coach and friend Morgan Bourbon, Paire has not been spared since resuming the circuit.

A big lack of "pussy" to use his favorite expression.

Positive for Covid-19 at the US Open, true-false positive before Roland Garros, contact case in strict quarantine in Australia, the French n ° 2 has increased the periods of forced isolation and the lack of "freedom" has left traces.

Especially in Melbourne, where he expected to make up for his preparation deficit ahead of the first Grand Slam of the season.

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This OM fan is an epicurean who could have been content to be a simple teacher in an academy under clement skies and was never ready to make all the sacrifices to kick a ball at the highest level.

The trip to South America looks more like a vacation with his current partner, Julie Bertin, reality TV candidate in "La Villa des Cœurs Brisés 6" ...

Apparently Benoît Paire has already moved on

(🎥 @benoitpaire) pic.twitter.com/dpMrq6EnPb

- We Are Tennis France (@WeAreTennisFR) March 5, 2021

However, Paire, who still decided after reflection to follow up with Acapulco and Miami, is never as good as when he plays for someone. "He is afraid of disappointing those close to him," explained his friend Jean-Charles Diamé, who had given up his post of financial analyst for a year to coach him on the circuit in 2018. Unlike a Kyrgios, he does not arrive on the ground saying to

myself

:

I'm going to behave like an asshole.

But frustration can catch up with him and it is often fatigue that makes him go wild. It's complicated for him to chase that away. It is 100% true. There is no calculation with him, he does not know how to do. "