MAIA, November 28, 2023 (by Dietmar Kaspar)

After his first-round win at the Maia Open on Monday against local player Duarte Vale, Frenchman Benoit Paire spoke to the press about his holidays, exhibition tournaments, the Olympic Games in Paris and his motivation still to compete on the tour.

Question: Benoit, how was the start for you here at the tournament in Maia?

Benoit Paire: It was a good match for me. I like the conditions, playing on indoor clay, and I think it’s the only tournament in the year in this way on tour. I knew my opponent, because I played him last year at the Challenger in Braga. He is a good player, so I had to be careful.

You played a long hard-court swing in North-America before. Was it difficult for you to change the surface for the last tournament of the year?

First, I was not supposed to play the tournament, because I was on holidays since 10 days without any tennis practice. But I felt good and confident, so I decided to try it at the last tournament of the season. I don’t feel any pressure here. If I win, I will get the points, if not I will go for more holidays.

What about the preparation here before your first match?

Yesterday, I only played 30 minutes with a junior guy. I do not have to practice so much. More important for me is my mentality, to be ready and focused. I have been playing tennis for 25 years, so I know how to handle it best for me.

Are you here because of a spot in the main draw for the upcoming Australian Open?

For sure, I cannot be in the main draw in Australia. In best case, I only can be about World No. 110 in ATP Rankings by winning the tournament here. The whole year, you feel pressure about making points for the ranking, so I wanted to do easy here and enjoy.

Benoit Paire back in Portuguese soil, looking solid against Duarte Vale. 6-2, 2-0 in the last match of the day. pic.twitter.com/GNNtB8FwkS

— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) November 27, 2023

You played Ultimate Tennis Showdown events this season. What are your experiences about these tournaments?

The tournaments are very nice, I love it. They were one of my best experiences in my career. A lot of people are watching and crying. I am so happy, because I am qualified for the final tournament in London in December and I will compete against great players there.

Should there be more tournaments in this way, or should regular tennis change into this direction?

I think, normal tennis should stay like the current situation is with the Slams and ATP. But sometimes, it is good for us to play something complete different. A very good example are the Next Gen Finals, where they use some rules of the UTS. For me, both sides with ATP and tournaments like UTS are important for tennis.

You have been a Top-20 player and competed at all great tournaments in the World. What is your motivation still to play on the tour?

I want to come back and play on all big courts on the tour, like Roland Garros, Australian Open and so on. I want to challenge the next generation there to have great battles with them. I was Top 20 about three years ago, so I think I still have the tennis to come back into Top 50. That’s why I still compete on the tour.

Is it difficult for you to compete on the Challenger Tour?

It is not easy to play Challengers every week, but I am still motivated and love to be on court. Next year I will change my schedule a little bit, playing more ATP 250 tournaments and qualifying events of the ATP 500 and Masters Events. It is not only about the motivation to compete at the bigger events. I played them for more than 10 years and it feels like a little bit home. I need the big crowd to play my best tennis. Empty stadiums as during the Covid pandemic are horrible for me.

What about the Olympic Games in Roland Garros next year?

I am not going for this, because there are only four players to represent France at this event. My main goal is to be back in the main draw of the Grand-Slam events, especially French Open.