Smiles, Scarves, and Snogs — Benoit Paire Teaches Dmitry Tursunov How To Be French
One of the fan-favorite aspects of the Cincinnati Open tournament is that you can get really close to the players on practice courts. “Big deal,” you say. “Boring practice, blah blah.” Well, that shows how much you know. Things happen on these courts, y’all.
Sure, there’s all the awesome tennis. And lots of shirtlessness. But there are also plenty of unique little moments, a glimpse at the players’ personalities when they’re not under the pressure of a match and TV cameras and a stadium full of spectators.
And sometimes there is French kissing.
The French part of this story is played by Benoit Paire, who had a practice session with Urszula Radwanska on the first Saturday of the tourney. Ben and Ula were getting ready to leave when they heard Russian (-American) player Dmitry Tursunov shouting at them from a neighboring court. We’re guessing he might have jokingly asked the bel homme why skinny French boys always have gorgeous women around them.
Benoit perhaps then explained the incredible prowess that French men have in the bedroom…
in great detail…
Dmitry then offered his hand in friendship, and asked how he could learn to be more…French.
Then Benoit explained that French men don’t do handshakes. They kiss.
Chicks, dudes, family, friends…apparently the French kiss everyone. At least that’s how Benoit explained it. Dmitry was amused.
He noticed that jaunty little hand-on-hip pose that Benoit had going, so he decided that emulating the Frenchman in every way was the best start to exuding the proper level of Frenchness.
Dmitry uses a towel to fashion himself a proper French scarf, just like Benoit would wear….
Then Dima waits for Benoit’s reaction. While he waits, he stares at Ben’s ass. Because this just seems to be something tennis players do.
Dmitry’s impish expectation of a reaction to Teh Funny reminds me of Stan waiting to amuse Fed when they played doubles in Indian Wells.
After granting Dima the desired laugh, Ben graciously agrees to help correct his French-inspired towel scarf.
And then show him the proper French greeting…
Merry laughter ensues…
And Dmitry is thrilled that Ula is totally losing it over their French display…
As Benoit leaves the court, he roughly wipes the taste of vodka from his lips…
And just off the court, Benoit is once again surrounded by gorgeous women…
You might also enjoy: Benoit Paire and Carlos Bernardes — The Epic Line Call in Monte-Carlo Round 1
P.S. The photos are real, the story is pure French flights of fancy. Feel free to interpret in your own way.
Photos: c2013 Valerie David for TennisInsideOut.com, except for Stan/Benoit from Benoit’s Twitter, 2013.
