© Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney
Benoit Paire suggests he is not bothered by what he could have achieved as the Frenchman admitted he is simply not someone who can work hard. Paire, who turned pro in 2007, was once considered one of the brightest talents in French tennis.
Although Paire made a solid career for himself, he never became a major star. Paire, who is 34 years old, has three ATP titles in his collection and he has been ranked as high as No 18 in the world. At the Grand Slam, Paire made the round-of-16 several times but never a quarterfinal.
“People tell me, ‘With your talent, you could have…’ Man, if I had worked harder, to get a little more, I would have stopped. The efforts that all the players do… It is above my skills. Take me for one hour of hard work, my quick feeling will be, ‘I will stop, and I will stop now.’
I don’t think I can repeat that on a daily basis,” Paire said on UTS podcast All on the Table, via Tennis Majors.
Paire on how he feels about hard workers
Although Paire is not a hard worker himself, he claims those who are hard workers have his “absolute respect. “I’m a fan when I look at the players who work hard.
When I see the other players at the gym, doing fitness to gain muscle. These guys have my absolute respect,” Paire said. Also, Paire revealed that he had a great level of admiration and respect for 2013 French Open finalist David Ferrer.
Ferrer, a former world No 3, was once considered one of the biggest fighters and competitors on the Tour. “One of the players I loved the most was David Ferrer. He was my absolute opposite. When I saw him work, I found that marvelous.
That’s the point. I just can’t do that. I just can’t,” Paire said.
