‘Tennis is not my priority,’ says Benoit Paire

Benoit Paire admitted winning at tennis wasn't a priority for him after yet another half-hearted effort in Mexico

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Benoit Paire has been banned from the Tokyo Olympics

After his latest loss, Frenchman Benoit Paire has admitted that winning at tennis wasn’t his priority anymore and he just wanted to get out of the bio-bubble as soon as possible.

Paire, who has lost seven of his eight matches so far this season, once again didn’t seem to give his hundred per cent as he went down 3-6, 1-6 to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the opening round of the Mexico Open on Wednesday.

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“I lost in the first round, it is better, I will be able to get out of the bubble quickly and enjoy a few days before Miami,” Paire was quoted saying by French publication L’Equipe.

“Tennis is not my priority for the moment. Getting out of the bubble is the only goal I have at every tournament.”

Travelling alone without a coach now, the 31-year-old added that he was hopping going from one tournament to other, collecting prize money than trying too hard to win matches.

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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 added.

“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 has career earnings of $8,537,756, has won only one match in 2021 so far. He defeated Nicolas Jarry in the opening round in Cordoba. He has also participated in the doubles events of all the tournaments he has played this year, adding to his prize kitty.

The revised rankings system due to the pandemic has meant Paire has not dropped down the ATP rankings and the Frenchman is currently 31st, which allows him to get into the main draw of tournaments.

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