"My demons are back again" - Paire on his struggles after early exit at US Open
ATP
Benoit Paire admitted to struggles with his mental health after his loss at the 2022 US Open.
Paire is a former World No. 18 player and a player who was always considered someone who could surprise any favorite. In 2013, the Frenchman showed how talented a player he was when he reached the semi-finals of the Italian Open in Rome and eventually lost to Roger Federer.
However, before losing at the tournament, he defeated players such as Juan Martin Del Potro, Juan Monaco, Julien Benneteau, and Marcel Granollers, and it was obvious that the Frenchman had the potential to play good tennis.
He showed that a few times when he won three titles in his career, the last one at the 2019 Lyon Open against Felix Auger-Aliassime. He also defeated some players from the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings in his career, such as Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, and Denis Shapovalov.
However, since the pandemic started, Paire has found it difficult to focus on his tennis, and it was obvious also during his first-round match at the 2022 US Open against Cameron Norrie when he lost 0-6, 6-7, 0-6. After the match, the Frenchman opened up about his struggles.
"It's a turning point. Bad start to the match. It's a little while since I've hit the ball. I stopped after Cincy [Cincinnati Open]. I took a little holiday. Now I'm going back on holiday, so it was just a little break between my holidays."
"I did what I could. I was winning 5-3, I should have been able to take the second set. it would have done me good in the head, but my demons are back again. The double faults and that started again, always the same. I do what I can."
Paire peaked at the World No. 18 position in his career. However, he's far from that now, as he's almost ranked outside of the Top 200. He was disappointed by that as well.
"I'm 167 in the world (he's 173rd), I let myself go, we'll see where it goes. I'm not sure to continue this season, maybe to stop here and see if I start again next year. For now, I need a bit of rest. I'm signed with Rennes, but really I have to cut it."
