By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday Could 22, 2024
It was a particularly emotional day of qualifying at Roland-Garros. Hours after Dominic Thiem bid farewell to the Parisian trustworthy, his good pal Diego Schwartzman additionally performed his remaining match on Courtroom Suzanne-Lenglen.
Schwartzman fell to Frenchman Quentin Halys 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7) in a second-round qualifying match, ending an excellent 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 group in a post-match ceremony. He thanked the followers, saying: “The final match right here reveals how I’ve performed my complete profession right here. Roland-Garros for me it’s extremely 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 pal Dominic Thiem to succeed in a career-best semifinal in 2020, and taking part in two different quarterfinals.
He took his photographs on the massive stars of the game as nicely, 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 evening — 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 at least one earlier than falling to the 24-time main champion.
“Each state of affairs was somewhat bit completely different, however on the similar time I actually loved each second,” he mentioned. “There have been very particular moments right here in Paris for me. I didn’t have luck on my facet within the second weeks right here, taking part in in opposition to Novak and Rafa, however on the similar time I can say in just a few years that I performed in opposition to them many instances within the second week of a Grand Slam.”
Love u guys !!! Thanks all of the French folks 🇫🇷🇫🇷❤️❤️ https://t.co/HqHocp2cso
— diego schwartzman (@dieschwartzman) Could 22, 2024
Schwartzman plans to retire from the game subsequent February in Buenos Aires.
The previous World No.8 says he desires to be remembered as a “an excellent fighter who was able to play the very best tennis on the planet.”
He will probably 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 an enormous will to win and went toe-to-toe with gamers who had been larger and stronger than him.
He made up for it with quickness, depth and really feel.
He obtained loads of love from the followers in Paris, and can absolutely get extra as he performs out his previous few months on the tour.
“I’m having fun with each second and each tear goes to return, it’s for happiness and nothing else.”