Benoit Paire Complains About Umpire Molina

Written by: Staff on 3rd June 2013

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

Benoit Paire Complains About Umpire Molina

epa03726147 Benoit Paire of France chats with the umpire during his third round match against Kei Nishikori of Japan at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 01 June 2013. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA |

France’s Benoit Paire may have started a far greater battle than he could ever have imagined after vehemently criticising the umpiring ability of Spanish official Enric Molina who last year was appointed the International Tennis Federation’s Head of Officiating.

Paire maintained higher ranked players would not have been hit with the same penalty point for illegal coaching that he received in his French Open exit against Kei Nishikori

Rafael Nadal has frequently been censured for remarks made courtside from his Uncle Toni, but that knowledge did not seem to pacify the 24 year-old from Avignon who lost 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 after previously being warned by umpire Molina for smashing his racket.

Molina is one of the sport’s most experienced umpires in the game and presided over both the US Open and Davis Cup final as long ago at 2005. He clearly felt very sure of the situation when penalizing Paire for remarks made to him by coach Lionel Zimbler

However Paire facetiously said: “I think the chair umpire wanted to get a promotion. I think if Nadal or some good player did the same thing, for sure he doesn’t put a warning.”

Paire, seeded 24th in the men’s singles received the penalty point towards the end of the second set, but was adamant: “It wasn’t coaching, it was just encouragement to remain focused on the match. He said just to stay aggressive, stay in the game, like everybody says. All the trainers know that, the umpires know that.”

Because of his position with the ITF, Molina does not regularly officiate around the ATP World Tour circuit on which Paire has this year reached the final in Marseille and the semi-finals in Rome and Chennai.

Paire made the point: “What I found difficult to accept is that he didn’t go beforehand to say, ‘Lionel calm down with the coaching,’ as the umpires do. They go to the trainers and say, ‘Be careful, calm down.’ They don’t get any warning. And then on the advantage point for me, 5-4, I received this warning. And they would never do this to the top five players.”

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Editors note : Personal dealings and observations of Mr. Benoit “P” would explain and expose his bad manners. He has a really bad attitude and is very spoiled. He is an example the worst of spoiled elite talented athlete . We highly recommend a personality adjustment for him and his team. Try starting in any children’s hospital ward anywhere in the world. It puts life in perspective pretty quick. Shame on” Mr.Cranky Pants” again.

Topics: Atp, Benoit Paire, Enric Molina, French Tennis Federation, Kei Nishikori, Lionel Zimbler, Rafael Nadal