Posted by Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday May 22, 2024
It was a very emotional day of qualifying at Roland-Garros. Hours after Dominic Thiem said goodbye to the Parisian faithful, his best friend Diego Schwartzman also played his last match on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
Schwartzman lost to Quentin Halys of France 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7) in the second round of qualifying, ending a fine French Open career that included two quarterfinals and a career-best semifinal by narrowing down to now. Argentinian dynamic.
After the game, Schwartzman broke down in tears as he addressed the crowd at the post-game event. He thanked the fans, saying: “The last match here shows how I played my whole career here. Roland-Garros for me is very important. I did what I know how to do – I fight to win the match. [but] he played an amazing game and deserved to win.”
Schwartzman went 16-5 between 2016 and 2021 in Paris, beating two-time finalist and close friend Dominic Thiem to reach a career-best semifinal in 2020, and making two more quarterfinals.
He sparred with the sport’s biggest stars, advancing a set and a break against 14-year-old champion Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals in 2021, before rain halted overnight play – losing in four sets there. the play started again the next day. He took it too Novak Djokovic going to five sets in the third round in 2017, leading two sets to one before falling to the 24-time major champion.
“Every situation was a little different, but at the same time I really enjoyed every minute,” he said. “There were very special moments here in Paris for me. I didn’t have luck on my side in the second weeks here, playing with Novak and Rafa, but at the same time I can say in a few years that I have played with them many times in the second week of the Grand Slam.”
Love you guys!!! Thank you to all French people 🇫🇷🇫🇷❤️❤️
— diego Schwartzman (@dieschwartzman) May 22, 2024
Schwartzman plans to withdraw from the show next February in Buenos Aires.
The former World No.8 player says he wants to be remembered as “a good fighter who was ready to play the best tennis in the world.”
He will be missed for more than that. He wore his heart on his sleeve and became pound for pound one of the strongest players on the tour. The 5’7” Argentine was desperate to win and faced players bigger and stronger than him.
He fixed it quickly, with energy and emotion.
He’s gotten a lot of love from the fans in Paris, and he’s sure to get more as he plays out his last few months on tour.
“I enjoy every moment and every tear will come, for joy and nothing else.”
