Beaten at the start of the Masters 1000 in Rome, he who found the land since his forced quarantine in New York, Benoît Paire preferred to put into perspective the scope of this defeat two weeks before Roland Garros.
For his first match since his abandonment on August 22 in Cincinnati and especially his quarantine in a hotel on Long Island, following a positive test for Covid-19, Benoît Paire, 24th in the world, was irregular and quite nervous this Monday in Masters 1000 of Rome. Sometimes at the limit …
He was knocked out 6-1, 6-2 by Italian wildcard Jannick Sinner. Logically lacking in physique after his fifteen days blocked in his room, the Frenchman regularly quarreled with the American referee, who gave him a warning for verbal abuse.
The end of the match turned into a comedy. Benoît Paire served with a spoon and hardly played the match point. Coming immediately to a press conference, he was content. No outcry with the organizers, to whom he had asked to start these Italian Open preferably on Tuesday.
Pair: “I gave what I could”
“I hadn’t played for ten days. For me it was a practice match, he said. I was like, ‘try to play an hour’. I played an hour. and four minutes. I’m pretty happy. It’s good for the rest, I’m getting ready. In Cincinnati, I stopped at 6-1 1-0, so it’s pretty positive. I gave what I I was able to relativize this defeat rather well. Fortunately, I have double, I’m very happy to be here. “
Since his return to France, Benoît Paire has tried to regain physical form. “I did three sessions at Roland Garros with Pascal Supiot, I am gradually coming back in shape. It is encouraging for the future, I am not injured. I am not at my level of my eighth of Roland last year. It’s in line with what I want. I will try to have fun on Wednesday with Nicolas Mahut. ” Benoit Paire is registered next week for the ATP 500 in Hamburg.
