WIMBLEDON: The first six months of 2023 have been brutal for former top 10 player Diego Schwartzman on the Tour.
Three years on from reaching the semi-finals of the French Open and peaking at a high of No.8 in the world, the Argentine now finds himself facing unwelcome challenges. In his first 16 tournaments played this year, Schwartzman failed to win back-to-back matches at all of them. During this turbulent period, he went from being a top 20 player to one ranked outside of the top 100.
“They have been very difficult months,” Schwartzman tells Ubitennis. “I was not playing my best and losing too many matches against opponents who I used to regularly beat in my career.”
“It was difficult.. new goals, new rankings, new age and a new challenge. But now I’m improving and I’m very happy.”
More recently things have been improving for the 30-year-old who is affectionately known as ‘El Peque’ (the little one) by his fans. A reference to the height of the tennis player who is only five foot and seven inches tall. He reached the third round of the French Open earlier this year (losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas) and the second round of Queen’s (losing to Alex de Minaur).
Although it is his latest win in the first round of Wimbledon that has put a smile back on his face. Taking on world No.41 Miomir Kecmanović, Schwartzman stormed to a 6-0, 6-3, 6-4, victory. Hitting 35 winners past the Serbian and saving six out of the eight break points he faced.
“I think it was my best match of the whole year. I felt great on the court.” He stated afterward.
“I have felt great against him a few times before today so I think that helped a little bit to have more confidence coming into the match.”
“It is always difficult to move and be ready against a guy like Kecmanovic. It’s always difficult to keep to the point. He likes to be aggressive and move the ball. I think I did great with my movements.”
A new stage of his career
So how has Schwartzman managed to turn his form around? Unfortunately, there was no magic formula that he or his team conjured up. Instead, he had to do it the hard way.
“You have to always learn about the situation. How you feel on and off the court,” he explains. “It was a different situation for me after many years of being very regular at winning a lot of matches. It took me a while but I have learned from it.”
This mature perspective comes as no surprise. Schwartzman has spent 12 years on the ATP Tour so far with his debut dating back to the qualifying rounds of the 2011 Buenos Aires Open. He has won four ATP trophies and earned more than $13.4M in prize money. On top of that, he has reached the quarter-finals or better at five Grand Slam events and defeated Rafael Nadal on clay at the Italian Open.
As for what the future has in store, Schwartzman has a completely different outlook on life as a player on the Tour.
“I’m very far (from my best). Now I have a different goal in my career. It’s to feel well, and play these kinds of matches when I have a chance to try to be the best.” He frankly admits.
“Talking about my ranking, I have reached so many goals so I am no longer thinking about it.”
His position is currently 98th in the world.
Saudi Arabia and football
Besides his career, he also spoke about the current topics of the sport. One of the most prominent involves Saudi Arabia and their potential investment in tennis via its sovereign wealth fund. ATP CEO Andrea Gaudenzi said he has held ‘positive’ talks with representatives in recent weeks. Meanwhile, WTA Chief Steve Simon visited the country earlier this year.
“It is always well received when you have different people come into tennis. I think it’s great if they want to come. This is helping many people in low or big situations. I hope they can come,” Schwartzman commented.
“I think if we have new people and new tournaments. It’s a different era.” He added.
The tennis player is fully aware of the topic through his beloved football. Saudi Arabia’s investment fund was instrumental in the £300M takeover of Newcastle United and they are currently spending millions in recurring European players for their league.
Schwartzman is named after footballing great Diego Maradona and attended the World Cup last year where his home country triumphed under the guidance of Lionel Messi.
“It is a very good situation after the World Cup,” he said of Football back home. “Everyone is loving football again and has a good relationship with the players from the national team. I’m a big fan of football so it’s great.”
Back to tennis and Schwartzman is scheduled to return to action at Wimbledon on Wednesday where he will take on Jannik Sinner. It will be a stern challenge for somebody who hasn’t beaten a top-10 player since April 2022.
“Sinner is a great player. He had a very good match. I hope to do well but let’s see if I have any chance.” He concluded.
Regardless of the outcome of his next clash, Schwartzman is entering a new stage of his career. He may no longer be at the top of the sport but he has chosen to embrace it rather than run away from that reality. That has to be commended.
