After his elimination on Wednesday in the first round of Roland Garros, Benoit Paire stepped up to defend his compatriots, disappointing this season. The 31-year-old Frenchman believes that we should not learn too hastily at the end of a particular year, marked by the Covid-19 pandemic.
A relief. Or almost. Benoit Paire was eliminated on Wednesday in the second round by Roland-Garros by Argentinian Federico Coria (7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1). Too short physically, the Frenchman had not based much hope on this unprecedented fortnight at Porte d’Auteuil. And he’s not unhappy to get home so early. On the other hand, the 31-year-old is annoyed with questions around the level of play of the French this season. And in particular “the Musketeers”: Gaël Monfils, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon.
“It annoys me a bit because we have very good players and we do not really realize it, reacted Paire at a press conference. But a Gaël Monfils, if he prepares himself next year, We’re still going to put him as our favorite and say it’s his year to Gaël. Whereas, three months before, you (the press, editor’s note) said that it might be the end of the Musketeers. Wait a bit. It’s a very special season, we shouldn’t learn from it either. “
“It’s not the end of the world either”
“She doesn’t mean anything this season, he continued. There are guys, of course, who are very prepared and we know they are going to play well. And there are also some who haven’t. Did a lot. I didn’t do much. Gaël, it was special. We resumed in extreme conditions. It’s not the end of the world either. “
Pair also assures us that the poor performance of the French troops does not affect the morale of the troops: “We are not sad eh. There, I will go home, I am very happy, whereas usually I am collapsed when I lose to Rolland. So we just have to stop, calm down. Next year, we’ll see. And if next year, they all have a bad season, maybe we’ll say it’s time end. But we must not learn too quickly from this season. “
