Benoit Paire held his arms up in celebration after the first round match against Lorenzo Musetti at the Miami Masters. But the rather universal symbol for victory was used to mark his fifth loss on the trot.
Paire, seeded 23, went down 3-6, 3-6 to the Italian teenager in the opening round in Miami. Later, on Saturday, he also lost the first round of doubles.
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The 31-year-old Frenchman has lost seven of the eight matches he has played this year and with seemingly little regret.
Benoit liberated
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After his first-round loss at the Mexican Open, Paire admitted that ‘winning’ was not his priority. He is more interested in the paycheque and getting out of the tournament bubble. Paire pocketed a total of $20,000 for losing in the first round of singles and doubles in Miami.
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“I come (for the tournaments), I make some money, and (then) I go to the next tournament: I do my job,” he had said after the Mexican Open.
“There, if you win an ATP 250, you only get $30,000. I took a check of $10,000 each time by losing straight. Why tear yourself away like a crazy to win barely more?”
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The Frenchman, who admitted that playing in front of empty stands had shredded his motivation, though does not believe that he needs to be disciplined by the ATP.
The men’s tennis governing body has, in the past, fined or suspended players for not putting in a hundred per cent effort.
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“What do they want me to be suspended? Because I am not allowed to be here? I do my maximum, sometimes my maximum is not very high. I do not see why I would have one (Suspension),” Paire said in an interview.
When asked what he would do now that he is out of Miami Masters so early, Paire said he would reconnect with his friends and family.
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“I manage my life the way I want to (…) You are really wrong to worry. I’m going to go home, see my family and friends, take my dog for a walk. And I’m not going to watch a tennis match, I’m not interested,” he said.
