Elliot Benchetrit announced this weekend that he had decided to end his career at just 27 years old. The former French player who took Moroccan nationality in 2021 and thus became the country’s number 1 was ranked 198th in the world at the height of his career. The Nice native says he is “relieved” to stop.
End clap for Elliot Benchetrit. The Nice native announced this weekend the end of his career at just 27 years old. No longer appeared on the courts since last April and a terrible slap (6-2, 6-1) in the semi-finals of the TIF tournament in Luan, China, against the Belarusian Ivan Ivashka, the former French player naturalized Moroccan in January 2021 decided to leave it there. Coerced and forced (“I wish it would have happened much later”).
Ranked today at 1,202nd place in the world after being part of the Top 200 at the best of his career with the highest ranking being 198th place in February 2020, the ex-Tricolore who was still the highest ranked Moroccan representative before retiring says he is tired.
Benchetrit: “I no longer want to be morning, noon and evening with the angel of tennis above my head”
For the man who began his career in 2016 and then won six titles on the ITF circuit in singles, one in doubles in Challenger and had reached the 2nd round of Roland-Garros in 2019 (his only victory in a Grand Slam tournament when he came from qualifying) after having swept away the Briton Cameron Norrie, former member of the Top 10 (8th) now 27th, hanging up, even so prematurely, constitutes a real deliverance, to hear it.
“Today is one of the most painful posts, but also one of the most liberating (…) Since I was twelve, I have lived, thought and breathed tennis, in my own way. I’m relieved to quit as a player and hope that one day I can pass on everything I’ve learned. I no longer want to be, morning, noon and evening, with the angel of tennis above my head…”, posted the person concerned on social networks, without hiding that the injuries, and one in particular, had largely motivated his decision.
Benchetrit: “The end of one of the most beautiful chapters of my life”
“My choice to stop so early is linked to a series of physical problems, notably the last one on the wrist, which was fatal. I also thought about the sacrifices of my family: I could no longer continue without having elements depending solely on my will to return to the highest level. The evolution of our sport, which has become a sport of supermen because of the playing conditions, is partly responsible for my injuries. »
The very young retiree assures that he will nevertheless retain a lot of positives as well. “It’s the end of one of the most beautiful chapters of my life (…) Experiencing this sport, despite crazy years like 2020-2021, has been extraordinary. The emotions experienced thanks to my work, my coaches, the medical team and my friends are an inestimable opportunity. »
Now it’s time for a new life for Marc Gicquel’s former protégé. In a completely different domain: “A professional adventure in the world of business from Dubai to Rabat via Monaco”. Good luck to him.
