Benoit Paire Suffers Humiliating Defeat in Rennes Challenger
Benoit Paire, the enigmatic Frenchman, has once again made headlines for his unconventional performance on the tennis court. In a first-round match at the Open de Rennes Challenger, Paire suffered a humiliating 6-1, 6-0 defeat to eighth-seeded Jacob Fearnley.
The match, which lasted a mere 37 minutes, saw Paire win a paltry 21 points. Fearnley, a rising star from Texas Christian University, broke Paire’s serve six times and won the last 10 games. The crowd jeered Paire after he double-faulted on match point, prompting him to sarcastically blow kisses towards them.
This performance is reminiscent of another infamous match in 2014, when Jarkko Nieminen defeated Bernard Tomic in 28 minutes at the Miami Open. Both sets between Fearnley and Paire approached the 20-minute mark.
Paire, a former Top 20 player, has been struggling for form in recent years. He has won only eight matches in 24 events this season and has plummeted outside the Top 250 in the ATP rankings. He has contested just one Grand Slam main draw in the last two years.
Paire’s latest performance has raised questions about his future in the sport. The 35-year-old has a history of erratic behavior and has been known to tank matches. However, he has also shown flashes of brilliance, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2019.
It remains to be seen whether Paire can rediscover his former glory. For now, his performance at the Open de Rennes serves as a reminder of his unpredictable nature and the challenges he faces in the twilight of his career.