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French tennis player Benoit Paire says he does not want to be labeled as an alcoholic tennis player. The Frenchman came under some criticism on social media after appearing on a couple of Instagram live sessions with good friend and fellow tennis player Stan Wawrinka where Paire was often seen having a drink.
Benoit Paire says he likes to have a good time
During an interview with the Team, Paire says, "I don't want to be labeled as an alcoholic tennis player. I don't spend my time just drinking. I just want to take my little drink and ask myself.
We don't replay before July or August, we never have as much time as usual. So it's hard to train, to play sports. And then I like to live, have fun, enjoy. So when it's 6 pm and we want to chat, we have a drink. But we are still top athletes, we do not have a drink every night." Paire's sessions with Wawrinka were a big draw among tennis fans during the initial days of the lockdown where they spoke frankly on a wide range of issues including tennis and their personal lives.
Benoit Paire is currently ranked No. 22 in the world. His best result in a Grand Slam event has been reaching the fourth round, which he has achieved on four occasions. He has won three ATP singles titles, at the 2015 Swedish Open, the 2019 Marrakesh Open and the 2019 Lyon Open, and peaked at No.
18 in the world rankings. In 2015, Paire was voted Comeback Player of the Year, rising from world no. 118 in the year end 2014 rankings to world no. 19 in the year end 2015 ATP singles rankings after a knee injury had caused his down slide in the rankings before that.
