WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 20, 2021

Benoit Paire

Press Conference

A. RUBLEV/B. Paire

6-2, 3-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Congrats on a great week. What do you think went so well for you this week? Did you come here just feeling good all the way around? Why do you think you had this success this week?

BENOIT PAIRE: Yeah, I think I was feeling good out of the court. I could enjoy the life like a normal tour, like before. That's why I play tennis, is just to travel around the world, to go in a nice city, to go here in Cincinnati in Kings Island Park with my girlfriend.

I just want to enjoy. When I'm like this, I know I can play good on court. I don't need to play too much tennis. I don't need to practice a lot. I just need to be good in my head.

That's why this week it was good working. When I'm ready to fight in my head, I think I can beat some very good players and I can be the Benoit Paire of before.

Q. Do you like playing three sets more than two?

BENOIT PAIRE: I would love to play in two (smiling). Yeah, you know, you play against good opponents. I play Kecmanovic first round, and then I played Isner yesterday. I played only some good players. Shapovalov in the second round.

It's never easy to beat these guys. Even if it's in three sets, I'm so happy. Today it was a tough loss, but it was a good match and a great atmosphere on court. I really enjoyed the moment.

You know, when I lost during one year and a half, I was in tournament, it was very sad. Now we come back, we have the crowd. And even if you lose, you are happy. When I see other players a little bit like me, like Tiafoe, even if we lose, we are so happy and we are out of the court like, Okay, we lost, but we enjoy the moment. That's a good thing, and that I didn't enjoy for one year and a half.