Earlier today in Miami, Michael Llodra and Benoit Paire took the court to play what should have been a routine first-round match between countrymen. There are no streams of the first round of the Sony Open, but Grandstand blogger Ricky Dimon was court-side and alerted tennis fans to the developing drama on-court, which eventually ended in a 7-6(7), 6-2 win by Llodra.
Benoit Paire time on Court 1
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) March 20, 2013
Paire and Llodra again wearing same shirt again. Fortunately wearing VERY different shoes.
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) March 20, 2013
umpire out of the chair – Paire and Llodra already have to be separated
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) March 20, 2013
Paire blasts forehand winner and gives Llodra an epic staredown
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) March 20, 2013
"Code violation. Unsportsmanlike conduct. Warning Mr. Lodra."
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) March 20, 2013
Paire giving Llodra staredown after every point he wins
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) March 20, 2013
Paire blew 4 set points in the first. 2 with shots that should have been routine winners.
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) March 20, 2013
there was enough entertainment in the first set for a whole match. As such, Paire has had enough. Mentally finished.
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) March 20, 2013
“Code violation. Unsportsmanlike conduct. Warning Mr. Paire.”
— Ricky Dimon (@RD_Tennistalk) March 20, 2013
Paire walks off the court and to say there was no handshake would be an UNDERSTATEMENT.
— Ricky Dimon (@RD_Tennistalk) March 20, 2013
I mean Paire did not even look in Llodra’s general vicinity after the match.
— Ricky Dimon (@RD_Tennistalk) March 20, 2013
Benoit gets serenaded with boos as he walks off the court and responds by enthusiastically waving to the crowd. LOL.
— Ricky Dimon (@RD_Tennistalk) March 20, 2013
pissed Benoit is pissed – twitpic.com/cd06xo
— Ricky Dimon (@RD_Tennistalk) March 20, 2013
Benoit is dumbfounded. Llodra is dumbfounded at Benoit’s dumbfoundedness. twitpic.com/cd05xx
— Ricky Dimon (@RD_Tennistalk) March 20, 2013
DO YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME!?!?! #PaireLlodra twitpic.com/cd05n7
— Ricky Dimon (@RD_Tennistalk) March 20, 2013
After the match, Paire’s BFF Stanislas Wawrinka chimed in wondering what was going on, and Paire essentially told him “I have some things to tell you, Stanley!”
Alors le match Llodra vs Paire????
— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) March 20, 2013
@benoitpaire je compte sur ça!! Mais je peux imaginer….
— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) March 20, 2013
Later, French journalist Carole Bouchard got word from Llodra’s camp:
Details coming on the Paire – Llodra incident. AFP says Llodra told Paire not to “behave like a little shit” after an issue on a serve, then
— Carole Bouchard (@carole_bouchard) March 20, 2013
Paire took it very bad and threw some chosen words to Llodra, like “eater of shit” and tried to shoot him (llodra says so). Llodra also took
— Carole Bouchard (@carole_bouchard) March 20, 2013
a code violation for it seems a provocation towards Paire. llodra says Paire went too far in insults. Also says : “I knew he’d go crazy if
— Carole Bouchard (@carole_bouchard) March 20, 2013
I was winning the first set”. No handshake. Only Llodra’s version in AFP. More i’m sure (and hope) in L’Equipe tomorrow.
— Carole Bouchard (@carole_bouchard) March 20, 2013
Wawrinka chimed in once again,
@carole_bouchard“Only Llodra’s version in AFP…” That’s the problem… Hahaha
— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) March 20, 2013
and added:
@carole_bouchard c est clair c est 2 fous sur un terrain… Mais Ben c est un fou gentil, trop gentil…. Mika c est différent….
— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) March 20, 2013
which translates to:
@linzsports “It’s clear that they are two crazies on the same court. But Ben is a nice crazy, too nice. It’s different with Mika.”
— Harani T (@HaraniT) March 20, 2013
There will be more information coming on this incident I’m sure, and I’ll keep this post updated with relevant links. But I think this about sums up my feelings on the situation:
LOL at Llodra thinking anyone can go “too far” with insults.
— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) March 20, 2013
EDIT: Carole Bouchard had an update from Paire on Thursday morning. Sounds like a good night of sleep did not solve this problem:
“I won’t ever talk to him again.He tried everything to upset me while I was dominating the game, he insulted me”,Paire on Llodra in L’Equipe
— Carole Bouchard (@carole_bouchard) March 21, 2013
#hormones
Tsonga’s hormones comment is never going to get old, is it? LOL
I’m torn between being amused and ashamed for these men.
Just before I saw this article I was thinking of asking you to write what happened. Better than I could have hoped for.
A very enjoyable contretemps and well documented. Can we have some more please ATP and WTA? A spicy juiciness mix is always tasty.
I don’t know what I think of the incident but it’s so cute how Stan is asking questions about this match, likely due to tracking the match on twitter as he’s not in Miami.
I think Benoit has a thing for Stan
‘#hormones’
Best. response. ever.
I fell on the floor with that, Lindsay. No, SamG, Tsonga’s comment will never get old now. It’s gonna come bite him in the ass forever.
Thanks for my morning ROFLMAO, Linds!! Great way to start the day.
The French just give us so much material to work with…we ladies can only dream of being so dramatic!!
ah la la ca j’adore! encore, encore les gars:)
ha ha I guess the very reason why I’m so buzzed with this is so the women don’t get accuse of overly dramatic,this pair of frenchies get the OSCAR:) lol!
[…] was a tough decision. Which was a bigger troll at the Miami Masters, the Paire/Llodra kerfuffle or the Brazilian fans’ unruly behavior during the Bellucci/Janowicz match? Both came early in the […]