Benoit Paire knows better than anybody about how much of a roller-coaster 2020 has been for players on the Tour.
The Frenchman looked to be on course to continue his strong form of 2019 after reaching the final of the ASB Classic in January. Although as the season progressed with the COVID-19 pandemic wrecking havoc Paire have found himself struggling on the Tour not just physically but mentally too. He has failed to win back-to-back matches at 10 consecutive tournaments with his current earnings for this season standing at just over $500,000.
“This year was good at the beginning. I made the final in Auckland, felt good on the court and I was happy to play. Last year was a good year too, so I was very happy to start the season like this and then covid-19 arrived with lockdown in France,” Paire told UbiTennis during his press conference on Tuesday.
“We had to stay at home and couldn’t do anything physically.”
Following a five-month break in Tour events due to the pandemic, the hope for Paire that he would be able to get back on track during the North American swing. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way with the world No.28 testing positive for the virus on the eve of the US Open and was subsequently placed into isolation. To add to the drama, a couple weeks later in Germany he tested positive again but was allowed to play under local rules.
Although having COVID-19 wasn’t the only battle, it was adjusting to playing under the new rules concerning limiting spectators, continuous testing and restrictions as to where you can travel to. Like his rivals he embraced the changes but it was not easy.
“When we started again I was not ready mentally to play like this without fans on the court. This is not easy for me but I am going to try and do my best in Kazakhstan.”
Paire is the top seed at this week’s Astana Open with him being the only top 30 player taking part. The event was a late addition to the tournament calendar in the wake of the pandemic with others being cancelled. However, the title isn’t the most important thing for the 31-year-old right now as he aims to get his momentum back.
“I have not had the best preparation for this tournament. I haven’t won a lot of matches but you never know. If I win one or two matches maybe I can go for the title,” he said.
“The confidence is not there for the moment but it will be here if I win a couple matches.’
“That is the most important thing for me in the tournament. To try to enjoy playing on the court and have fun. Even if I play bad, just try and fight. This is what I haven’t done since the Tour started again.”
Thriving on playing in front of fans in packed arenas, Paire has a somewhat traditional view of tennis as others debate modernising the game. Novak Djokovic recently suggested that the line judges should be replaced at tournaments by an electronic line calling system similar to what was used during the US Open. Although he won’t be able to count on the support of Paire.
“I don’t like this at all. I want to hear something from the crowd and a real person. The noise (from electronic line calling) I don’t really like honestly. This is not why I play tennis. I play to play in front of people. To have crowds and not fake noise,” he stated.
Paire, who has a bye in the first round, will play his opening match at the Astana Open against either Federico Delbonis or Mikhail Kukushkin.
