Benoit Paire Fan Club

I do realise this is going to be one very lonely place, still, Benoit Paire deserves to have his little spot under the sun here on OTF

His official details go like this:

Full name Benoît Paire
Country France
Residence Avignon, France
Born 8 May 1989 (age 24)
Avignon, France
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 1⁄2 in)
Turned pro 2007
Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand)


"Plays with a two-handed backhand...Started playing tennis aged six with his father, who used to work at a mini-tennis club next to their house...Father, Philippe, works at the SNCF (French railway system); mother, Eliane, works for the local government of the Vaucluse; one brother, Thomas, is a tennis coach...Favourite surface is clay...Favourite shot is backhand...Idol growing up was Marat Safin...Favourite hobby is to watch football and is a huge supporter of the Olympique de Marseille...If he wasn't a tennis player he would have loved to play football...Favourite tennis memory is appearing at 2010 US Open...Nickname is "La Tige" ("the stalk") because he's tall and thin."


I have first spotted Paire about a year ago, during what now seems to be the very last edition of Serbian Open. He reached the final and lost to Seppi.

It was one of those slow and lazy in-between weeks when not much was happening, so seeing Benoit play for the first time was a memorable experience: he brought instant charisma and presence to the court and his game stood out straight away - despite being quite tall, Paire moved very well and did not let his height hinder him from playing a beautiful, attacking tennis full of flair.
Unlike Dolgpolov who has a similar, bohemian, non-compromising approach to tennis, Paire's shots are more elegant and his rhythm on the court ebbs and flows like music.
It really is exciting to watch how he creates and unfolds a point, because you never know if he is going to pull off a dropshot, run around his backhand or just counter-punch with his loose forehand. All these are often mixed-up in a single point, so there is plenty of adrenaline to go round....

Paire has a deadly first serve, but his trade-mark shot is the double-handed backhand.
Now, I have never been a fan of DBHs, but his is a bit special: it really is a weapon and it is beautifully and smoothly struck often producing deadly pace.
He sometimes even volleys with it, which is quite something to see!

Benoit walks around the court in his own bubble and always seems to be deep in his thoughts. He comes across as very passionate and does have swings in matches which I hope he grows out of in time.

All or nothing tight-rope walker kind of man, not easy to find these days

ALLEZ!!!!!

Unfortunately, I could not watch Paire play Benneteau today, as there were cameras covering that match, but the fact he came back from a set down (which he lost in the TB and won the third also in a TB, says he is toughening up and winning "important" points.
Obviously, I am very happy

He is playing Del Potro in the last 16 tomorrow.

Happy times in Benoit Paire fan club today
He has just dispatched Delpo in straight sets, achieving his best career result, reaching the last 8 in a 1000 Masters event .

He played some lovely, clean tennis, again with lots of flair and elegance. ade Delpo look like a 1D basher.

I believe he is probably going to play Chardy in the next round, wouldn't it be super if he was to win that one and then meet Fed in the semi

What a surprise, even average baseliner Paire rolled over Delpo in straight sets. Nitb, your "second" man does not look bad

paulcz wrote:What a surprise, even average baseliner Paire rolled over Delpo in straight sets. Nitb, your "second" man does not look bad

No, he doesn't look bad at all

And what do you mean by "average base-liner"?

noleisthebest wrote:And what do you mean by "average base-liner"?

Now, I need to categorize him into a higher class, which is the upper average baseline class

To be honest when I saw him his base line game looked to be too wildish, but he is clever with his hands and changes the game rhytm very often so with his improved consistency he surely can get in TOP20 and maybe, who knows... He can get an opponent out of his rhytm, which was probably the case with Delpo ( I did not see it, but I will look at that).