Benoit Paire achieved another victory in an ATP match two years after his previous triumph, when he emerged victorious against the Swiss Huesler in the ATP Masters 1000 in Cincinnati. This success came after a period in which he participated in lower-tier tournaments to rebuild his ranking and regain confidence.
Paire once again found success on the professional circuit in the tournament held this week in Montpellier, in front of his home crowd. In the first round, the Frenchman staged a comeback to defeat multiple Grand Slam champion and former world number 1 Andy Murray, whom he had never previously beaten in three encounters. The final score was 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3. However, Paire was then defeated by his compatriot Harold Mayot in the following match.
In an interview with L’Equipe, the former 18th-ranked player in the ATP rankings discussed the challenges he faced after contracting COVID-19. He reflected on the difficulties he encountered during a year in which he primarily competed in Challenger tournaments, with the exception of Roland Garros, where he received a wild card entry. Paire acknowledged that it was a complicated year, but he felt compelled to participate in the Challenger events in order to earn ranking points and improve his position. Although his goal was to finish the year within the top 100, he ultimately ended up ranked 115th. Paire admitted that he struggled following his recovery from COVID-19 and did not perform as well as he had hoped.
Furthermore, Paire opened up about the criticism he has faced regarding his alleged excessive alcohol consumption during the darker periods of his career. He expressed frustration with the constant accusations that he is only focused on drinking and questioned the logic of him continuing to play tennis. Paire emphasized that each day is a challenge, but he has chosen to give himself a second chance by starting from the 110th position in the ATP rankings.