ATP

Benoit Paire: “There is a region in the knee that's inflamed and I have to be careful”

Published

10 years ago

28/05/2014

TENNIS 2014 ROLAND GARROS – 28^th of May 2014. R. Bautista Agut d. B. Paire 6-4, 7-6, 6-2. An interview with Benoit Paire

Q. Physically what happened on the court?

BENOIT PAIRE: It was a bit tough. So physically it was a bit tough, as I was saying. I practiced only three days before the first round, and yesterday I played doubles, but it was a bit difficult. My knee is hurting a little but not today. No knee that’s hurting, so I’m very happy to be able to play again.

The feelings come and go and come and go. Sometimes it’s unforced mistakes, sometimes winning shots. But the most important thing is I’m back 100%. So I have to practice again so I’m in the rhythm of this competition.

But, you know, to me, it was very important to play here at Roland Garros. I’m happy. I managed to come to that stage. Of course, I could have done better. My knee was not hurting too much, but physically it was a bit tough.

When I lost the second set it was a blow on the head. But I’m happy to have played. Not to have any pain. And I will be happy to practice again on the practice courts.

I’m very eager during the second half of the season to be able to play more matches and win points and all that. You know, I’m very happy, frankly. And I’m very much looking forward to the competition in the months to come.

Q. Do you have a schedule that’s very precise, or will it vary depending on your physical ups and downs?

BENOIT PAIRE: No. I know that I will have to have an MRI, and there is a region in the knee that’s inflamed and I have to be careful. I shouldn’t use it too much. It’s healing at present. So there is going to be physiotherapy and also I will have to practice.

But I’m very happy, very happy to play on grass and play tournaments this summer, as well.

Of course, my ranking is going to go down, but that doesn’t really matter. The best thing is to be there 100%, and I think I can do that.

Against Bautista, you know, if I can play a bit better I could have defeated him. It was a near miss for me. But then during the third set, it was really tough.

Q. You discussed with the referee or the umpire on the court. What did you say?

BENOIT PAIRE: Nothing special. We discussed, you know, it’s between the referees or umpires and the players. You know, we were playing and then there was music, like a band.

You know, you have to be back and into the competition to feel you’re in it, because sometimes, you know, he had poor shots and then he said, We have to wait between the first serve, second serve. He says, Take time. And I like to be quick. I’m a quick player. These are small things, the details.

To me, it has a great impact on me, because, you know, it’s difficult for me to focus for two hours in a row and I have to focus.

These ups and downs and focus and my concentration, it’s such that sometimes I get lost. So to win the second set, these are usually very important moments for me in a match that I manage usually really well.

It was Love 40 for me, so I thought I was controlling at the beginning of the match, but then I made too many mistakes, unforced errors, and I didn’t have enough focus. Physically, I had to be really present on the court. It’s a bit difficult, but I will manage. I have no worries about it.

Q. You felt you could have defeated Bautista, but you have never defeated him. How come?

BENOIT PAIRE: I think I’m playing better than him. I have all the weapons to beat him. I have been suffering from this injury for three months. Last time we played was in Australia, and I defeated him in the inter club matches. Look at the statistics. That’s true. That’s important.

But look at what I do when I play against him. Look at the match. I don’t think he was hurting me that much. I felt that I was doing the whole game. Then sometimes when I make fewer direct or unforced errors, I’m leading sometimes.

These are these moments when, you know, I have not practiced enough. I have not played enough. I missed the match I was defeated, but later on you will see I’ll fix this and my results will be excellent.

My objective was to be 100% focused. I’m not ready yet for a five set match. I tried. It was okay today. My knee was not hurting. I have to practice again. As I said before, I’m back on the right tracks. The tracks leading to the tennis courts. Then everything is going to be okay again.

Yesterday I felt I was better than Bautista. I can’t say to the contrary. When I’m the courts I feel I’m on top of him. Sometimes for other players it’s different. You have the impression he’s weaker than you are.

Bautista, that’s true, he’s 29, but I have all the weapons to defeat him. The only thing is the unforced errors. I made too many of those, and that’s why I lost the match today.

Related Topics:Benoit Paire Roberto Bautista-Agut roland Garros 2014

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ATP

Rafael Nadal To Play Laver Cup In Berlin

Published

3 days ago

22/04/2024

Adam Addicott

Rafael Nadal has eased speculation that he might be retiring from the sport soon after signing on to play in the Laver Cup later this year.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion is the latest player to join the line-up for this year’s team competition which features Europe taking on the rest of the world over three days. It will be Nadal’s fourth appearance in the competition and his first since 2022. He competed in the inaugural edition of the event back in 2017 alongside co-founder Roger Federer.

“I am very happy to be playing Laver Cup in Berlin for Team Europe,” Nadal said in a press release. “I have some really special memories from my Laver Cup experiences, including all the emotions from London two years ago playing alongside Roger for the last time.”

Nadal’s decision to play comes amid questions about his future in the sport. The former world No.1 has previously indicated that this year could be his last on the Tour but he has stated that no decision has been made. In recent months he has been sidelined from action due to injury setbacks and has only been able to play in two tournaments so far this year.

“At this stage in my career I really want to go out there and make the most of every opportunity I am given,” he explains.
“Teaming up is always an incredible experience and I have always enjoyed it, the competition is different and exciting. I’m looking forward to going to Berlin and helping Team Europe win back the Laver Cup.”

Other European players confirmed to be playing are Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul have agreed to play for Team World. This year’s event will be held in Belin at the Uber Arena between September 20-22.

The Laver Cup was inspired by golf’s Ryder Cup. It was co-founded by Federer’s Team8 management company (which he formed with agent Tony Godsick), businessman Jorge Paulo Lemann and Tennis Australia. In 2019 it became an official ATP sanction event and now has a place on the official calendar.

Nadal is set to return to competitive action at the Madrid Masters which he has won on five previous occasions. He has been drawn to play teenage wild card Darwin Blanch in the first round. If he wins, Nadal will then play Alex de Minaur who knocked him out of the Barcelona Open last week.

ATP

Carlos Alcaraz In Doubt For Madrid Open Title Defence

Published

1 week ago

16/04/2024

Adam Addicott

Carlos Alcaraz admits that he is not certain if he will be ready in time to play at next week’s Madrid Masters.

The 20-year-old is yet to play a clay tournament in Europe due to a forearm injury which ruled him out of both Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He hurt his right arm whilst training shortly before the Monte Carlo event began.

It is the latest in a series of injury issues that has affected Alcaraz throughout his young career. Since the start of 2023, he has also been derailed by issues with his abdominal, hamstring, post-traumatic arthritis in his left hand and muscular discomfort in his spine.

“My feeling isn’t right, but it is what it is. Now I’m fully focused on recovery and I have a little more time,” Alcaraz told reporters in Barcelona on Monday.
“My goal is to try and go to the Madrid Open, but at the moment nothing is certain. I was given specific recovery times and I’ve respected them, but I haven’t felt good. I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
“I can’t say I’ll be 100% in Madrid, but that’s my intention. We’ll train and do everything we can so that the feelings improve so I can play a match … It’s also a very special tournament for me.”

Alcaraz has won the past two editions of the Madrid Open, which is classed as a Masters 1000 event. In 2022 he defeated Alexander Zverev in the final and then 12 months later he beat Jan-Lennard Struff in the title match.

The setback comes after what has been a steady start to the year for Alcaraz who has reached the quarter-finals or better in four out of five tournaments played. He successfully defended his title in Indian Wells and then reached the semi-finals in Miami.

Should he not play in Madrid, it is likely that the Spaniard will lose his No.2 spot to Jannik Sinner who is just over 100 points behind him in the standings. He will still have the chance to play a clay-court event before the French Open with Rome taking place early next month.

ATP

Olympic Qualification Is Not the Only Goal For French Veteran Gael Monfils

Published

2 weeks ago

10/04/2024

Adam Addicott

Gael Monfils (image via https://twitter.com/atptour)

Gael Monfils admits he doesn’t have too many years left on the Tour but this doesn’t mean his targets are any less ambitious.

The 37-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise up the rankings over the past 12 months following battles with injury. At his lowest, he was ranked 394th last May but is now in 40th position. As a result, he is closing on securing a place in the Olympic Games which is being held in his home country of France for the first time since 1924. The tennis event will be staged at Roland Garros.

“When I was 400, I was thinking the Olympics would be great, but it’s going to be tough,” Monfils told reporters on Tuesday.
“There are younger players playing well. If I don’t qualify, I don’t mind. It will just mean I’m very close to the ranking I want to be. That ranking will allow me to find another goal.”

Monfils is already a three-time Olympian but has never won a medal at the event. He reached the quarter-finals of the singles tournament twice in 2008 and 2016.

Another goal of Frenchmen is the Wimbledon championships which concludes just three weeks before the Olympics begin. The proximity of these tournaments will be a challenge to all players who will be going from playing on clay to grass and then back to clay again.

“I really want to go and play Wimbledon. I don’t have so many Wimbledons to play in the future. The Olympics is one goal, not the only goal.” Monfils states.
“My dream is of course to be part of the Olympics. I played three times at the Olympics. I’d like to be there again. But I also really want to do well in Wimbledon this year. To reach my goal, it has to be including Wimbledon.” He added.

Monfils is currently playing at the Monte Carlo Masters where he beat Aleksandar Vukic in his opening match. In the next round, he will take on Daniil Medvedev in what will be their first meeting since 2022. He leads their head-to-head 2-1.

Medvedev has openly spoken about his roller-coaster relationship with playing on the clay. He admits it is not his favourite surface but how much of a factor could this be in his upcoming clash with Monfils?

“Of course, it’s not his favourite one, but he’s still Daniil Medvedev, and whatever the surface, it’s always very complicated to play him,” Monfils concludes.