Fans Are Angry: ‘Enfant Terrible’ Paire Presents a Mystery with His Listless Performance

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Benoît Paire is polarizing. In France, the 34-year-old man with the hipster beard and spectacular playing style has long achieved cult status among many. At this year’s French Open, his matches were always particularly loud. But others are bothered by his sometimes boisterous manner, his escapades and freakouts. Whether swearing, spitting or deliberately double-faulting, Paire caused problems throughout his career.

Now he has angered the fans again at the Challenger tournament in Malaga (Sp). In the match with local hero Pedro Martinez (26), he was defeated 0-6 in the first set and gave up in the second round when the score was 2-4. Paire seems completely lethargic. His performance, in which he sometimes fails to hit even the simplest balls, borders on refusal to work.

Social media users cannot believe the performance of the current world number 123. One person described Paire as “a disgrace to professional tennis”. Another calls for a lifetime ban from the tour because the Frenchman would only “disrupt competition”.

Successful provocateur

The accusations are no coincidence. Paire had repeatedly provoked people with his lethargy in recent years. During the pandemic, he publicly stated that his goal was to be able to break out of the tournament bubble as quickly as possible. Which in turn meant losing as quickly as possible.

Another time, he posted a screenshot on social media of the prize money he had already won ($8.5 million at the time) and said that the tour was lucrative for him even without much effort: “In the end it’s worth it, bad to He doesn’t know why he should tear himself up on the field for some more bonuses.

Well, Paire clearly seems to be subject to certain fluctuations in motivation. On the other hand, his successes – in addition to three victories at ATP level, the former world number 18 in six other finals and also won eight Challenger titles – are not possible without the necessary focus.

“I don’t feel good in my head”

The statement he made after the irritating performance in Malaga also goes this way: “I am currently going through a difficult phase. I currently don’t feel well in my head when I step onto a tennis court. Happens. Now it’s up to me to find solutions to have fun again.”

The reactions? His opponent Martinez, of all people, cheers him up and writes “Vamos Benito”. The rest is the same as always with the “Enfant Terrible”: some love Paire, others never want to see him set foot on a tennis court again. (mpe)

Source : Blick