By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday Might 22, 2024
It was an especially emotional day of qualifying at Roland-Garros. Hours after Dominic Thiem bid farewell to the Parisian devoted, his good buddy Diego Schwartzman additionally performed his last match on Court docket Suzanne-Lenglen.
Schwartzman fell to Frenchman Quentin Halys 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7) in a second-round qualifying match, ending a superb French Open profession that featured a pair of quarterfinals and a career-best semifinal by the diminutive but dynamic Argentinian.
After the match Schwartzman broke down in tears as he addressed the gang in a post-match ceremony. He thanked the followers, saying: “The final match right here exhibits how I’ve performed my complete profession right here. Roland-Garros for me it’s totally particular. I did what I do know to do – I battle to win the match [but] he performed an incredible match and he deserved to win.”
Schwartzman went 16-5 between 2016 and 2021 in Paris, defeating two-time finalist and good buddy Dominic Thiem to succeed in a career-best semifinal in 2020, and enjoying two different quarterfinals.
He took his photographs on the massive stars of the game as properly, going forward by a set and a break in opposition to 14-time champion Rafael Nadal within the quarterfinals in 2021, earlier than rain stopped play for the night time — he misplaced in 4 units when play resumed on the subsequent day. He additionally took Novak Djokovic to 5 units within the third spherical in 2017, main two units to 1 earlier than falling to the 24-time main champion.
“Each state of affairs was a bit bit totally different, however on the identical time I actually loved each second,” he stated. “There have been very particular moments right here in Paris for me. I didn’t have luck on my aspect within the second weeks right here, enjoying in opposition to Novak and Rafa, however on the identical time I can say in a number of years that I performed in opposition to them many occasions within the second week of a Grand Slam.”
Love u guys !!! Thanks all of the French individuals 🇫🇷🇫🇷❤️❤️ https://t.co/HqHocp2cso
— diego schwartzman (@dieschwartzman) Might 22, 2024
Schwartzman plans to retire from the game subsequent February in Buenos Aires.
The previous World No.8 says he needs to be remembered as a “a great fighter who was able to play the very best tennis on the planet.”
He might be remembered for greater than that. He wore his coronary heart on his sleeve and was pound for pound one of many strongest gamers on the tour. The 5’7” Argentine had a large will to win and went toe-to-toe with gamers who have been greater and stronger than him.
He made up for it with quickness, depth and really feel.
He acquired loads of love from the followers in Paris, and can certainly get extra as he performs out his previous couple of months on the tour.
“I’m having fun with each second and each tear goes to return, it’s for happiness and nothing else.”
