“That’s why I play tennis, not to play Challengers”: Benoît Paire finally regains victory after more than 500 days of drought

The joy of the Avignonnais at the moment of winning over Murray. Free Midi – Alexandre Dimou

After long months without winning on the main circuit, Benoît Paire (112th in the world) won a very good victory against 49th Andy Murray (2-6, 7-6 [5], 6-3), Monday January 29 in the first round of the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.

This victory makes you happy after a long wait (1 year, 5 months and 27 days) ?

Yeah, I've been waiting for it for a long time, it's been a long time since I played tournaments at this level too. I spent a year playing Challengers, apart from the wild card at Roland-Garros, it was a complicated year. I had no choice but to go through Challengers again to gain points and move up the rankings. I had aimed to get back into the 100s before the end of last year but I finished 115. Since Covid it’s difficult, I haven’t had very good results, last year I hung on in Challenger. Today, playing in Montpellier on the Patrice-Dominguez court, a person who helped me a lot when I was young, that touches me. I made the final 11 years ago here… It's just good memories, an incredible atmosphere, playing against Andy on center court was already great to do so then to win, it was magical. There was my family, my friends, the support of the public so it was great.

We felt a lot of emotion at the end of the match…

It's difficult because I was 18th in the world, I played a lot of big tournaments and I found myself only playing Challengers against guys who play well as well. So that’s what’s difficult because there were a lot of criticisms: « There's no point in you playing tennis, all you're good for is drinking alcohol. These are not easy things to accept every day. And I find that I still put in a lot of effort and today I am rewarded. It wasn't easy but it was really a good surprise to find myself on the court. I have also been a little injured since mid-December and today I did not have too much pain in my Achilles tendon so everything is positive today and that will remain a great victory and that’s why I still play tennis.

What's going through your head in this last game where you lead 40-0 and three match points before having to defend a match point ?

(He blows) It was a disaster because I led last year with several match points and it’s true that these are matches where we say to ourselves that these are big courts, great atmospheres… And last year each time it didn't work and this year it's a bit the same thing. I told myself that I still found myself serving for the match, I lead 40-0 to have match points and then BAM I don't pass my first ones, he makes some nice points, I rush a little and c& rsquo;is total panic. Where I am very happy is that I was able to pretty much keep my calm and make a good volley serve on the break point. But it's hard because I ask myself so many questions, I really wanted to win this match and have a second round to play and not end in a defeat. I didn't know where to serve or what to do and luckily his ball ended up in the net, I was lucky.

What is your goal now for the tournament ?

I don't know if it's pretentious to tell me to make a semi-final or win. Honestly, I know that when I feel good in my sneakers and my head is in the right place I am capable of performing well. All the players are playing well but I feel, like when I play a match today, on par with all the boys in the table. So why not go far but that doesn't mean anything that I will have a great match. But my goal is to win several matches here and why not win.

What motivates you to continue ?

What still pushes me is that I still have this passion for tennis, still this desire to play on big courts, to have big matches. That’s why I play tennis, not to play in Challengers or lower tournaments but rather to find myself in Grand Slam tables or 250 tournaments like Montpellier. I think I still have the level. I feel pretty good in my tennis. If physically and the head manages to follow. I'm still capable of good results so that's why I'm hanging on, why I'm here and I came out in three sets against Andy Murray who was playing very well. So it’s a great victory with a lot of emotion because that’s why I play tennis and I didn’t want to end up in lower tournaments than I did before. will have regrets.

It’s a relief to tell you that you can still do it ?

I have been aware for a long time that I am capable of beating good players. Even last year when I managed to have good matches, I told myself that if I was on the main circuit with this quality of play…hellip; Today it proves to me that when the physique and the head are there I am still capable of making very big shots. Ok Andy Murray lost his matches in Australia, he may be at the end of his career but he is still a very difficult player to beat. Today I had a good performance. and yes it makes me feel good.

Where did the trigger against Murray happen ?

It played out mentally and physically. Of course he was physically challenged but so was I, so we could see that at the end he was able to run like at the start. The way he moves from the first game you have the impression that it's very difficult. But at the end of the third he's moving the same way. What made the difference was that I had the support of the public which helped me a lot. I was able to make the difference with my forehand, I went for the points, I was a little more aggressive than him.

The public talks a lot and questions, how do you manage all that ?

To be honest I have been playing UTS for 2-3 years and I enjoy this atmosphere where people can talk between points, there is a DJ… hellip; For me it really doesn't bother me at all anymore, I really like it, that it's a bit of a mess on the court. I'll tell you something, I played last year in front of two people on a Challenger in Waco. So obviously when I find myself at Central Montpellier with a full stadium, for me I'm happy.

What made you most proud of this match ?

To show everyone that I am still capable of playing tennis and having good results. When we lost in the first rounds, which I lost against Jules Marie in Australia, we said why he still continues to play tennis, to lose against a blogger… hellip; This is quite difficult to accept. I questioned myself and told myself to play for fun as I always did, to try to enjoy myself even if it doesn't go the way I want. But don't put too much pressure on yourself. Last year in certain important matches I put a lot of pressure on myself and then I told myself that I just wanted to play my game, to enjoy it, that people are there to support me and push me. Playing in front of my family, showing them that I can beat Andy Murray, so it was a lot of emotion.