Australian Open: Gael Monfils and Benoit Paire - Memorable press conferences after first round
Gael Monfils and Benoit Paire made a lasting impression at the press conferences after their respective first rounds - but in completely different ways.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Feb 08, 2021, 09:08 pm
Grand Slam tournaments write their own stories. That should show up again on the first day of the Australian Open 2021. First of all, there is Gael Monfils , who had to say goodbye to Melbourne in the first round after a five-set defeat against Emil Ruusuvuori.
The Frenchman has been waiting for a victory on the ATP tour for almost a year. Accordingly, the 34-year-old was depressed at the subsequent press conference: "Well. I'll just repeat my mother's sentence. She will tell me. 'You just have to keep training, then it'll come.' That's the only thing, "said Monfils tearfully.
Bresnik as a savior in an emergency?
"I want to break out of this nightmare. But it just doesn't work," said the eleventh player in the world list, who had prepared for the season together with former Thiem coach Günter Bresnik . At least so far without success.
aomonfils1
A little later, Benoit Paire, another Frenchman, caused a sensation - but in a completely different way than his compatriot. The 31-year-old was particularly excited about Tennis Australia. "I think what happened is sh ... and shameful," said Paire, who had previously lost to Egor Gerasimov in four sets.
Paire criticizes unfair treatment
But what was the Frenchman so upset about? According to his statements, there was also a positive corona case on a flight to Adelaide, but - unlike Paire, for example - those affected did not have to be in strict quarantine. "We should have the same things and rules for everyone," said the world number one. In his eyes, the organizer's approach is "scandalous".
However, he was satisfied with his game, explained Paire, who was otherwise not happy with the Australian Open: "I am very disappointed with this tournament." At least in this regard, the 31-year-old has something in common with his compatriot Gael Monfils.
Here is the individual tableau for the men
laver arena