A mother’s love is the ace that serves a champion’s heart. This is a sentiment many would likely agree with. Benoit Paire’s in Newport was sweet, but the real triumph was yet to come! Winning his first match on the grass in over five years, “The Rebel” indeed showed his rebellious side on the ground on Tuesday. Despite his aggressive style, French player Paire seeks his mother’s love after wins. Similar was the case this time around. A brief FaceTime never hurts. Does it?
When Paire came to the grass courts of Newport, he had not had a win for the last 4 months in his ATP Tour. But soon it was about to change when Paire defeated Zachary Svajda in the Round of 32 by 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4). This win wasn’t just Paire’s – it belonged to his mother Eliane too, who’s been his unwavering supporter throughout his tennis journey. He wasted no time after the match, immediately FaceTiming her, a local government employee in Vaucluse, to capture her priceless reaction.
Interviewers were abuzz with curiosity, eager to learn more. During the post-match interview, a reporter, Blair Henley, asked:
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
.@BlairHenley: 'I've never had a player take a FaceTime call before the on-court interview… Can you tell us who called and why it is very important to you?'
Benoit Paire [little emotional]: 'It was my mom, I know she's watching at home in France and she's very stressed, so…' pic.twitter.com/8IQU418NvC
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) July 16, 2024
To watch his son, whose intrigue in tennis started at the age of 6, slowly build his name and go through the success and the defeats, is certainly an emotional journey for his mother too. And the victory at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championship event has added on to it. Now, Paire has swiftly entered the Round of 16 match. His next target is Marcos Giron, against whom Paire vows to show the same excellence.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The French player has not had much success this season, and this victory marks just his second of the year so far. Paire last played UTS in Oslo, where he gained one victory, finishing fourth in Group A. But this latest triumph has certainly bolstered his belief in himself, and now, with his mother’s approval, Paire is all set to deliver another one of his groundbreaking performances in Newport tomorrow! And rooting for him will be another one of his biggest supporters at home!
Paire reveals one of his greatest supporters!
Although Paire claims clay to be his favorite surface, his hitting shots on the grass is nothing less than amazing. His impressive movements have not only captivated his mother but also his dog, Ravioli. Much like Elaine, he too never misses a chance to see the Frenchman on the ground. And the love is mutual. When asked about his favorite tattoo, Paire responded,
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“The one I’m gonna pick is this one… Ravioli. It’s the name of my dog. He was watching on TV.” Benoit often shares his special and intimate moments with his dog on Instagram. Be it playing with him beside a lake or going on a vacation with him in the snow, the photos of their adventurous trips are a treat to his fans.
Benoit Paire, the three-time singles title winner, is fueled by the love and support of his loved ones as he sets his sights on achieving even greater success on the grass.