Diego Schwartzman is 11 in the world!

By Scoop Malinowski

One of the most astonishing achievements in modern tennis is the almost unbelievable fact that Diego Schwartzman is now ranked no. 11 in the world.

The five-foot-seven-inch, 25 year old Argentine was not an exceptional junior. He did not take the ATP World Tour by storm in his late teens, early 20s. But somehow the diminutive gladiator extraordinaire has slayed 89% percent of the professional tennis goliaths, and etched his name into the annals of tennis.

My first memory of Schwartzman is four years ago when he played a 1R night match on Ashe against Djokovic. He was an unknown, ranked about 100 in the world. But he impressed everyone by showing he could compete well with the ultimate elite pantheon of tennis.

Though he lost in three lopsided sets score-wise, that performance was no fluke. Schwartzman showed something that night and he gained from the experience. And he kept rising.

The following year 2015, Schwartaman drew Nadal 2R on Ashe and lost a battle 76 63 75.

Established now as a dangerous top 50 player, Schwartzman and won his first title in 2016 in Istanbul, terrorizing Dimitrov in the final with a miraculous comeback win (from a set and 2-5 down in the second) that so profoundly wounded the ego of Dimitrov that the Bulgarian whiz destroyed his racquets in the third set and had to be defaulted. At this point it was clearly evident: Schwartzman iss a very special competitor.

The Argentine has also fared well in his four cracks at Roger Federer. In 2015 Schwartzman won the first set from Federer in Istanbul semis and finally lost 75 in the third. Last year in Shanghai Diego lost to Fed 76 64.

The good results kept coming. Schwartzman extended Djokovic to five sets at Roland Garros last year in the round of 32. He won the first set vs Nadal this year at the French Open QF.

He won his third career title this year in Rio vs Verdasco.

2013 was the year Schwartzman emerged into the ATP from Futures and Challengers. He played his first ATP main draw in Vina Del Mar, losing to eventual champ Horacio Zeballos in !r. Then he qualified in Acapulco and lost to Nadal. His first ATP main draw win came in Buenos Aires against Thomaz Bellucci.

Last year I became a big believer in the genius of Schwartzman in Miami where I watched him destroy one of his idols David Ferrer 61 62 on Court 2. It was the worst beating I ever saw Ferrer suffer. Schwartzman literally out-Ferrered David Ferrer and ran him around the baseline like a yo-yo.

Schwartzman’s game is tricky. He has a low center of gravity and can move like a cat and when he gets to the ball he has uncanny pop on his shots. He can cause damage off both wings. He’s the ultimate fighter in tennis today. Just watch Nadal express respect at the net after he plays Schwartzman. Nadal’s demeanor is of 100% pure awe and respect and adoration. It’s like Nadal just can’t believe the 141 pound junior welterweight is able to compete so vigorously against the heavyweights of tennis.

Nobody can believe it, because it’s just not possible but somehow against all odds it’s happening. And somehow, some way, Diego Schwartzman is ranked no. 11 in the world.

Diego Schwartzman is the ninth wonder of the world. And I defy you to name a more amazing player today than Diego Schwartman.

Diego Schwartzman

31 comments

<< My favorite day one Wimbledon matches

Wimbledon Qualies >>