Paris (AFP)

New misadventure for Benoît Paire: after his forced quarantine at the US Open three weeks ago following a positive test for Covid-19, the Frenchman assured to have been authorized to play Wednesday in Hamburg, despite two new positive tests since his arrival in Germany.

There is something to be a little lost.

And the rule that applies at Roland Garros, where no positive player is allowed to play, is obviously not the same throughout the circuit.

Just after his first round against the Norwegian Casper Rudd (30th in the world) in Hamburg on Wednesday, a match which he abandoned exhausted, suffering from stomach pains after playing a little more than a set (6-4, 2 -0), the 25th player in the world, who arrived in Germany last Friday, gave his explanation.

"When I arrived, I was still tested positive for Covid. I'm tired, I can't take it anymore. I said, I'm breaking! And then the guy said to me: + Here in Germany, if you are positive for Covid and you have already completed your quarantine period, normally we no longer test players, because even if you still catch it, you are no longer contagious + ".

A violation of the rules established on the rest of the circuit: at Roland Garros for example, where qualifying has taken place since Monday, five players and one player were excluded due to positive tests, including three with the status of "cas- contact "from their coach.

A protocol considered far too severe by some interested parties.

- "The ATP will have to explain it to me" -

But health rules vary from country to country, creating some confusion.

And the case of Benoit Paire will not clarify things.

"ATP will have to explain to me what the exact rules are. Because I see people in Paris who are negative, but because their coach is positive, they cannot play. But here in Germany, you can be positive and play, ”he explained.

The situation for the Avignon, out of form and who has aligned since his New York episode two withdrawals and a non-match in Rome, is not easy to follow either.

"I was negative after the US Open, negative in France, negative in Rome, positive in Hamburg," he said, saying he was very anxious.

"I think it's impossible to play tennis like that. You don't sleep" every time while waiting for test results.

"Mentally it's hard - honestly, if it stays that way, I just want to quit."

Today "I tried because I'm happy to be on the court, but I was tired, I couldn't move, so I had to stop".

"The problem is that I am tired," added the Avignon resident, visibly frustrated, to reporters.

According to him, the only symptom he suffers from is this fatigue, but "I don't know if it's the virus or having to stay in the room for ten days (at the US Open)" and not have been able to train.

While Roland-Garros begins in four days (September 27 - October 11), Benoit Paire assured that if he could not play on Parisian clay, he would end his season.

“I am mentally tired,” he said.

© 2020 AFP