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Benoit Paire Wimbledon
ATP Tennis Players, Tennis News, Wimbledon

‘I don’t care about the people’ – Benoit Paire after Wimbledon fan berates him


Benoit Paire has responded after a spectator shouted he was “wasting everybody’s time” during his Wimbledon defeat to Diego Schwartzman.

The world No. 46 was beaten 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 by ninth seed Schwartzman in a first round match that lasted just 95 minutes.

The Frenchman was given a code violation for lack of effort by umpire Mohamad Lahyani in the third set – during which he appeared to tank points regularly.

During the 19-minute third set, a disgruntled fan told Paire: “You’re wasting everybody’s time”.

“I do not care about the people. I play for me and that is it. I think it is a bit ridiculous. I find it difficult to accept this decision,” the 32-year-old said in a post-match interview.

“I try my best when I am in the bubble, but for me playing tennis like this is impossible. So I try my best. It is tough for me.”

It was Paire’s seventh straight loss stretching back to the Madrid Masters last month. He has a 2-17 record in 2021.

World No. 9 Schwartzman will next play British wildcard Liam Broady in the second round.


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.