Google News
French tennis star Benoit Paire credited the Madrid crowd for helping him overcome Federico Coria in his Madrid qualifying final match as he revealed he felt like he was playing at the French Open. On Sunday, Paire recovered from a set down to beat Coria 6-7 (5) 6-4 6-2 in the Madrid qualifying final round.
Paire is certainly feeling well in Madrid as he has won back-to-back matches for the first time since the Australian Open. "I said to myself: are we in France or in Spain? It was qualifying in Madrid, but I had the impression of being at Roland-Garros.
Everyone was singing, it was exceptional The atmosphere was crazy, I love it! People are there and waiting for me, it touches me," Paire told Quentin Moynet.
Benoît Paire : "Je me suis dit : on est en France ou en Espagne ? C’était des qualifs à Madrid, mais j’ai eu l’impression d’être à Roland-Garros.
Tout le monde chantait, c’était exceptionnel. L’ambiance était folle, je kiffe ! Les gens sont là et m’attendent, ça me touche." — Quentin Moynet (@QuentinMoynet) May 1, 2022
Paire beats Coria to reach the Madrid main draw
Paire got off to a good start to the match, having broken Coria in the first game.
Paire was holding to his serve until the 10th game, when he failed to serve out for the first set. Paire failed to serve out for the first set in the 10th game but gave himself a nice chance to win the first set in the tie-break as he was 5-2 up on Coria.
After taking a 5-2 lead in the tie-break, Paire suffered a stunning collapse as he lost the next five points as Coria stole the first set. Paire faced three break points in the opening game of the second set but saved them all to avoid going down by an early break.
Paire also saved a break point in the fifth game, before breaking Coria in the 10th game when the Argentine was serving to stay in the second set. After winning the second set, Paire started the third set strong and with a 3-0 lead.
Coria never recovered as Paire broke Coria again in the eighth game to complete a comeback win. Paire will meet No. 13 seed Diego Schwartzman in his Madrid opener.