It's a small event.
Benoît Paire won a match on the pro circuit.
The Avignonnais, who has been accumulating setbacks for several months, thus beat Hugo Grenier (6-3, 6-3), during the first round of qualifying for the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.
A success that allows him to face the Italian Luca Nardi on Monday for a place in the final table.
The 33-year-old Avignonnais, who a week ago still refused to shake hands with his opponent in a third zone tournament in Tenerife after another defeat, did not hide his relief: "
It had been a long time since I hadn't played a good level of tennis where I moved well and was pretty solid in my commitments with the ball going well.
He offers himself a small puff of
I was still in the top 50 in the world last year, in the 20 two years ago.
I do what I can, I try to have fun as I can on the pitch.
For the moment it's complicated, today everything was good for me compared to what I've been doing for three years which is a disaster so already, winning a match, it's beautiful.
»
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Hit three times by the Covid, Paire is mainly talked about for his escapades on and off the courts.
He is not shy about it.
Du Benoit Paire in the text.
“
It's very simple, there was the Covid, a lot of alcohol, a preparation that was not up to what I wanted and had to do.
Inevitably, the results do not follow but I took advantage of my life.
There, I'm trying to come back, to recover well in my head and in my legs
(…)
So winning a match here is great, I'm happy to play in front of the Montpellier public.
What has changed since 2019 is that I was not ready to play tennis matches, I was more ready to party and there I am trying to find a correct level.
»
Read alsoAlcohol, psychologist, online hatred … Benoît Paire in the midst of depression
Its objective is clear: the big tables of the tournaments of the big circuit, like this week in Montpellier.
Due to his repeated failures, the former resident of the top 20, who has fallen beyond 200th place, has been playing in the second or third division in recent weeks:
"It's complicated when I find myself on Challengers
(second division ),
I'm not really used to it and when I lose in the first round it undermines me even more
.
“Finalist, ten years ago in the Hérault, beaten by Richard Gasquet, Paire wants to believe it… but not too much.
"
For me the feat is to win a match.
Afterwards, winning two would be a great achievement and after all, everything is possible.
From the moment I find a little confidence, that I feel good in my legs and in my body, I think that tennis is still there.
" To confirm…
