“Not Going to Make Any Controversy…”: Benoit Paire Responds to Toni Nadal’s Response to His Pay Rant

Veteran French tennis star Benoit Paire has responded to Toni Nadal’s no-holds-barred response to his recent remarks on tournament bubbles and reduced pay checks.

Known to court controversies with his on-court conduct and comments, Paire claimed closed-door events and bubbles have reduced tennis to a “tasteless profession”.

Toni Nadal had accused Benoit Paire of defaming tennis with his remarks

He later tweeted on the reduced prize money at the prestigious Miami Open, saying that the fact that Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal Novak Djokovic, and a host of other top male stars have pulled out of the event shows there is a problem with the ATP.

Paire further said that he doesn’t find much interest in playing tennis these days and is happy with whatever he earns from first-round exits at Tour events.

“Why tear yourself like a crazy to win barely more,” he said.

The remarks clearly didn’t go down well with Nadal’s uncle and long-time former coach, who responded in the recent interview that Paire need not have made his opinion public as it has hurt the image of the sport.

“All this does tennis poorly. These statements are not correct. He would have done better to keep that to himself because it tarnishes the image of tennis,” Toni said.

The revered coach, who prepares future tennis stars at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, further said that the Frenchman isn’t doing himself any favors by making such remarks. It clearly shows that he is not working hard enough to win matches or tournaments.

“What is not normal is not to fight. There is very little value given to effort lately,” Nadal’s uncle said.

Benoit Paire responded to Toni Nadal’s rebuke

In a measured response to the senior coach’s remarks, Paire said he doesn’t want to stoke a needless controversy.

“I am not going to make any controversy…I respect Toni Nadal a lot for the person he is and what he has brought to tennis,” the Frenchman tweeted.

However, Paire isn’t the only one to have voiced misgivings over tournament bubbles and prize money.

Read More: “Tarnishes the Image of Tennis”: Toni Nadal Blasts Benoit Paire Over His Unprofessional Pursuit

Canadian star Denis Shapovalov recently said that reduced pay checks in tournaments leave very little motivation for the players to travel and compete.