“I am growing up my level again” – Diego Schwartzman hopes UTS is a springboard to a strong hard court season

How in the world is Diego Schwartzman, former world No 8, perennial top 20 talent, possessed with a genuinely showstopping game and persona, all the way down at No 98 in the world this season? As the saying goes, tennis is not about where you’ve been, but where you’re going, and the Argentinian firecracker believes he is on the way back up.

Though winning hasn’t come easily for the fan favourite over the last 12 months, he believes that the winds of change are blowing in his direction this summer.

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“Improving,” he told Tennis Majors of his current form on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s UTS in Los Angeles. “I am growing up my level again, improving a few things.

“It was a tough first part of the year for me, and also the last part of last year, I was a little bit tired, my level was going down and my ranking was going down.” 

Schwartzman has won four of his last seven matches since the start of Roland-Garros, with his only losses coming against top 20 players. Maybe he has started to turn the corner…

“Many new things after many years of being a regular player and winning a lot of matches,” he said of his turbulent 12 months. “I have a different age (now 30), a different game, but I think that in the last month and a half, two months, I am playing very well again, so I’m feeling that on that court and it’s helping me to raise my level.”

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UTS in L.A.? Huge!

Schwartzman is in Los Angeles as a part of a star-studded eight player field that will kick off UTS in the United States for the first time. He says he’s honoured to be a part of the field and excited to be playing in a city that has a rich tennis tradition.

On top of that, he’s looking forward to bringing the fans the type of experience that only UTS can offer.

“I think it’s very exciting,” he said. “We have a tournament very close to here at Indian Wells, but in L.A., I never experienced to play – it’s a big, beautiful city and a huge place to be, and I think to play tennis in this kind of event is going to be very exciting for the people.” 

Though he’s conducting normal practices, Schwartzman says he dedicates about a quarter of his time to preparing for the different rules of UTS, such as four timed quarters and cards that influence and encourage different tactics.

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“I try to have this time to practise hard, and also, for 20 to 25 percent of the practice I change my style, make some fun things, some movements, some different shots, because it’s a different event, different points and different rules and you have to be involved in the new system so I think you also have to practise that.” 

Schwartzman says that UTS is a great way to start the North American hard court swing.

“For me it’s good,” he says. “I was at home for a few days after Wimbledon, and now, to be ready for the tournaments on hard, after here it’s going to be great. Also it’s great to play this new tour, for us I think it’s always important for us to keep the rhythm and keep the competition, to have different rules, it’s exciting and relaxing – it’s going to be nice.” 

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“Frances is the one”

We asked all the players which player of the eight they considered to be the most entertaining. For the Argentine, it is the charismatic Tiafoe that brings the most to the event.

“Talking about these eight guys who are here, I think Frances is the one,” he said. “He’s so funny, making shots, playing with the people, with the crowd and with the opponent, he’s very fun to watch, and he has Kyrgios now on the bench so it’s going to be fun.” 

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