Benoit Paire launches stunning attack on Australian Open: ‘It’s s***’

Benoit Paire gave Australian Open organisers an incredible spray as he unloaded about quarantine conditions after his first round loss.

Benoit Paire was absolutely furious.

Benoit Paire blew up after his loss in the first round of the Australian Open, calling the tournament “s**t” and attacking organisers for not treating the players with respect.

The Frenchman lost in four sets to unseeded Egor Gerasimov and wasn’t shy about letting his feelings known after a disappointing outing following two weeks in quarantine.

Paire was one of 72 players unable to leave their hotel rooms after being deemed casual contacts of a person on their charter flight to Melbourne who tested positive for COVID-19, and he fumed about the “shameful” way those stars have been treated in the lead-up to the year’s first grand slam.

“I think it’s s**t, and what happened is shameful,” he told French publication L’Equipe. “My level of play was good, I think my attitude was good.

“I hope I didn’t hurt my elbow too much. But otherwise, overall I’m very disappointed with this tournament.”

Some players, like Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka, completed their quarantine in Adelaide, where they were allowed out for five hours a day to train and receive treatment.

It sparked accusations of double standards for tennis’ elite — and Paire was happy to join the chorus of criticism.

“There was also a positive case on the flight to Adelaide, but there, they had time to take blood samples, etc,” he said.

“We were told to quarantine. Either we do the same things and the same rules for everyone. I do not understand why it’s not fair for everyone. A truncated preparation, truncated matches. To me, this is scandalous.

RELATED: Kyrgios sprays mate’s girlfriend mid-match

RELATED: Nick laughs off comedian’s savage roast

Benoit Paire let loose.

“Afterwards, I’m very happy with my level, with what I was able to produce today. But this tournament, frankly, I think it’s really crap.

“This match, I could have won it if I had had one or two more training sessions, a normal preparation.

“I’m going to go back … and finally enjoy ... being able to go out, have a drink, be outside.”

Paire also said money was the driving factor behind the decisions being made as the sport grapples with how to operate in the pandemic.

“It’s all about the money. That’s it, actually. There is a huge loss if they don’t make the tournament,” he said.

“No matter what, there has to be a tournament. Afterwards, most players think that there is a little bit of money to be made and they come for it.

“Me first, I also play for money. But if you have to make so many sacrifices and things go so badly, let it be such a hassle, at some point you just have to say stop.

“I don’t quite understand where we’re going, I don’t quite understand what the ATP is doing. It becomes borderline grotesque. For me, tennis is not that. Frankly, I’m not enjoying it.”