- Benoît Paire, who played almost at home in Marseille, lost his nerves in the round of 16 which opposed him to Alexander Bublik, on Wednesday.
- Annoyed by some spectators of the Open 13, the Avignon, 20th player in the world, was trapped by Alexander Bublik, 55th in the ATP ranking.
"Come on Benoit, you're at home here!" This recall shouted by a supporter of the Palais des sports, at the start of the second set, could have been beneficial. But Benoît Paire, born less than 100 miles from Marseille and who supports OM, has still forgotten that he was playing at home at the Open 13. Faced with the Kazakh Alexander Bublik, this Wednesday, the French volcanic left overflowing with emotions. Yet announced as one of the favorites, Benoît Paire lost (3-6, 6-4, 6-4) in the round of 16.
The atmosphere was anything but hostile. Benoît Paire did not blow whistles, like last year. In 2019, the Avignon player left the court under a bronca after having sent the last points of his match against David Goffin ... And after, of course, exploding a racket. In the process, he called Marseille supporters "sheep".
"He's really a moron!" "
They are not resentful: they were mostly behind him this Wednesday. In any case at the start of the match, where only one child encouraged "Alexander Boubli" (sic), probably for the sake of contradiction. But over the course of the match, the gangly Bublik garnered more and more support.
It must be said that Paire, without falling into its worst drawbacks, offered part of its usual paraphernalia: nervousness against itself ("it sucks that Benoît!"), Against the referee ... Then against spectators . We thus heard a very clear "shut your mouth" spat towards the tribune. He also threw a racket on the ground - without breaking it.
A "finish it" that does not pass
"He's really a moron," annoys a spectator. Those who thought the Marseillais more tolerant with this kind of attitude will be at their expense: many, in a Sports Palace two-thirds full, condemn the attitude of the Avignonese.
“I really hate Pair, admits Flora, a tennis fan and Marseillaise. He is far too arrogant, too closed in on himself. It looks like he is stuck in his character! "He wastes his talent with this kind of behavior," said Caroline. "I'm not a fan of his mood swings, especially since in Marseille, there is always someone in the audience to chamber him and push him to go further," laments Daniel.
Audience: "Finish it"
Benoit Paire: "Finish it, you can't say it!" If that's to say that, go home ”
In an electric match ⚡️, it is the one who hates the most #Tennis who validates his ticket for 1/4. There are only 2 left at @ Open13 #Tennis pic.twitter.com/KUFJZblFpK
This did not fail, this Wednesday: behind the court, two spectators tickled Benoît Paire as soon as he started to lose track, at the start of the second set and especially in the third. And when Bublik got his three match balls, one of the jokers yelled "finish him!" »Pair then definitively lost ground and yelled at him for a long time, on the air of« repeat a little what you have just said, to see? "
"We can say what we want, but" finish it "is a bit limited. You just have to respect the players a little, ”railed Benoît Paire at a press conference. He did not really explain his underperformance, saying that "it was a beautiful tennis match" and that he had "nothing to blame". Except to lack composure? "It was once again an outside event that brought him out of his match," analyzes Olivier, a sad expert. As soon as these supporters started to chamber him, it was over. "
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