Diego Schwartzman’s 5 best moments, including stunning upset over Rafael Nadal
The odds were always stacked against Diego Schwartzman having a successful career as he stands at just 5’7″, but he made the most of every inch of his frame in a stellar career.
As his story came to an end in front of his home fans in Buenos Aires, we take a quick look back at his early life, and detail his five greatest career achievements.
Schwartzman is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, with his maternal great-grandfather escaping a train to a Nazi concentration camp during World War Two – before taking his family from Germany to Argentina.
Named after the famous Argentine footballer Diego Maradona, the former world No 8 grew up during Argentina’s great depression, with his mother selling items from her local jewellery shop to be able to afford tennis equipment.
Schwartzman’s nickname is ‘El Peque’, which roughly means ‘shorty’.
Biggest title of career
In 2018, Schwartzman was victorious at the ATP 500 in Rio which was the only tournament above ATP 250 level that the Argentine won.
En route to the title, the former world No 8 beat Casper Ruud, Federico Delbonis, Gael Monfils, Nicolas Jarry, and Fernando Verdasco.
“I never thought before this week that I [was]going to be here with the trophy”, the Argentine said. “It’s an amazing week for me. Everything was perfect; every match, every set was perfect for me, playing my best tennis. I am really happy and trying to enjoy.”
Victory over Rafael Nadal
2020 marked the most disrupted tennis season in ATP history, with the COVID-19 pandemic postponing – or outright cancelling – many events across the tour.
However, in a post-US Open Rome event, Schwartzman would have what he said is his: “best win ever.”
In the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters, ‘El Peque’ faced ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal, who had won the event on nine separate occasions – and his last 12 clay court matches.
However, when the night session arrived, it looked like the Argentine was in control at the Foro Italico from the very first game.
The Spaniard was simply unable to hit through his opponent in the cool conditions, and, despite letting a double break lead slip, hit a volley winner to claim the victory in straight-sets, 6-2, 7-5.
After the victory, Schwartzman exclaimed: “For sure it’s my best match ever. I played a few times against the three big champions in tennis. I never beat them until today. I’m very happy.”
First Grand Slam semi-final
Less than two weeks later, Diego Schwartzman would reach the last four of Roland Garros.
In doing so, the Argentine was the shortest man to reach the semi-finals of the Parisian Grand Slam since 1980.
En route to the quarter-finals, he beat Kecmanovic, Giustino, Gombos, and Sonego – all without dropping a set.
In the quarter-finals, Schwartzman prevailed against the defending US Open champion Dominic Thiem in a five-hour battle, 6-2 in the fifth set.
However, in the last four, he couldn’t repeat the feat that he achieved in Rome, losing to eventual champion Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(0).
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Breaking into the top 10
After his achievements in Rome and at Roland Garros, Diego Schwartzman confirmed his place inside the world’s top 10 in the ATP rankings.
He became just the ninth man from Argentina to reach this exclusive club – after Guillermo Vilas, Jose-Luis Clerc, Alberto Mancini, Guillermo Coria, David Nalbandian, Gaston Gaudio, Guillermo Canas, and Juan Martin del Potro.
The Argentine ended the year ranked world No 9, the highest rank that he would ever achieve.
13 wins over top 10 players
One of the most impressive Schwartzman achievements is his success against players ranked inside the world’s top 10 – especially in the ‘golden era’ of tennis.
In total, the Argentine beat thirteen such players.
His first arrived against Dominic Thiem at the Montreal Masters in 2017, and his most recent was a victory over Taylor Fritz at the Shanghai Masters in 2023.
Other opponents include Alexander Zverev, Karen Khachanov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Grand Slam champion Marin Cilic, and – as already mentioned – Rafael Nadal.
