Benoit Paire admits his demons are back after US Open defeat: "It's a turning point"

Benoit Paire lost to Cameron Norrie at the US Open and after the match hinted at not playing anymore this season.

Paire went public about his battle with depression earlier this year admitting that he has trouble staying motivated as his play continues to suffer. Another poor result came at the US Open after which Paire admitted that his demons were back:

"It's a turning point. Bad start to the match. It's a little while since I've hit the ball. I stopped after Cincy [Cincinnati Open]. I took a little holiday. Now I'm going back on holiday, so it was just a little break between my holidays. I did what I could. I was winning 5-3, I should have been able to take the second set. it would have done me good in the head, but my demons are back again."

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Norrie said after the match that Paire played too quick and it was true as he rushed many times in the match:

"The double faults and that started again, always the same. I do what I can. I'm 167 in the world (he's 173rd), I let myself go, we'll see where it goes. I'm not sure to continue this season, maybe to stop here and see if I start again next year. For now, I need a bit of rest. I'm signed with Rennes, but really I have to cut it."

He also hinted at maybe stopping alltogether:

"I won't say that this is the last time that we'll see me in a Grand Slam. If I can rediscover the motivation and the desire, I think that the tennis is always there. In training, I feel very good. If my head really wants to come back, it will all come back very quickly. However, if my head says 'you've played enough, that's 13 years that you're on the circuit, I can't give any more', it's my head that decides, not my body. I'm not saying that it's over, but in these conditions, it's difficult to project/look forward. It's a saturation. If the head come back, I know that I will be a good tennis player."

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