“If I didn’t have Nadal, Djokovic in front of me, I could’ve gone deeper in Grand Slams” – Schwartzman
The former world No 8 from Argentina lost six matches against Rafael Nadal and four against Novak Djokovic at the Majors
Zuma / Panoramic
Just like every coin has two sides, the glorious reign of the Big Three, namely Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, brought gloom to many, one of whom was Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman.
Schwartzman is due to start his 2025 Argentina Open campaign against Chilean Nicolas Jarry in the first round at Court Guillermo Villas in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. Since he has already declared to call time on his tennis career after this tournament, any loss this week will prove his last as a professional.
Nicknamed ‘El Peque’ for his small stature (1.70 m), Schwartzman turned pro in 2010 and has claimed four titles on the ATP tour thus far. He achieved a career-high ranking of world No 8 in October 2020.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐩𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞 ❤️🔥
— IEB+ Argentina Open (@ArgentinaOpen) December 17, 2024
Diego Schwartzman 🇦🇷 es el primer invitado al @iebmas #ArgOpen2025 🏆 pic.twitter.com/hmpeBTwKeF
However, like every tennis player, the Argentine had dreams of lifting a Grand Slam trophy but couldn’t. The best he produced at the Majors was a run to the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2020. And like the majority of ATP players in the last two decades, Schwartzman’s antagonists were Nadal and Djokovic. He touched upon the same in an essay for ATPTour.com ahead of his retirement.
“Last month, I was in Uruguay enjoying a holiday with my family when I ran into a French guy who was probably 22 or 23 years old,” the 32-year-old recalled. “He said to me, ‘I remember that time you were playing Rafa at Roland Garros and the rain came!’
“In the 2018 quarter-finals, I led Rafa by a set and a break when the weather made us come back the next day. Rafa won the match and the tournament. I lost seven times in the second week of Grand Slam tournaments to Rafa or Nole. I was playing so well. If I didn’t have these guys [Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic] in front of me, I think I could have gone even deeper in these tournaments [Grand Slams]. But I am proud that I never went down against these legends without a fight, and it is nice that fans still remember that.”
At the Majors, he lost to Nadal six times, including in the 2020 French Open semis, and to Djokovic four times.
I have a small body, but it gave the biggest players in our history bad moments.
Diego Schwartzman
Nevertheless, the Argentine is walking away from the racquet sport feeling grateful.
“While it has been a little bit sad watching tennis lately knowing this moment was coming, it was in a good way. I have a lot of amazing memories to think about and achievements to celebrate. I had the opportunity to check off many dreams and do more than people thought was possible for me,” he added.
“My tennis was not just about forehands and backhands. Sometimes I walked on court trying to think about how I could crack my opponent. It is kind of funny that in the end, tennis cracked me, and that is why this is the end. But that is okay. I am happy. If you would have told a young Diego I would accomplish what I have, my answer would have been simple: ‘No chance’.”
People in this post
More tennis news
Australian Open, US Open, WTA Player Council: Everything you wanted to know about Madison Keys (but never had time to find out) – updated after reaching career-high ranking of No 6
Cancun Tennis Open: Branstine makes last 16
Cancun Tennis Open: Arango books spot in last 16
February 11, 1994: The day Martina Navratilova played in Chicago for the last time
Delray Beach Open: Nakashima makes second round
