Schwartzman achieved significant milestones in his tennis career during 2020, notably defeating Rafael Nadal in straight sets at the Rome Masters before reaching the final. He later showcased his skills at Roland-Garros, advancing to the quarter-finals against Dominic Thiem, where he triumphed in a thrilling five-set match. Schwartzman also had notable victories over Sascha Zverev and Marin Cilic in previous years, demonstrating his resilience and talent on the ATP tour.
Triumph Over Nadal in Rome (2020)
One of his most remarkable victories came during the 2020 Rome Masters 1000, which was rescheduled to September due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Schwartzman, seeded 8th, received a bye and proceeded to defeat John Millman and Hubert Hurkacz, setting the stage for a quarter-final clash against the legendary Rafael Nadal. In a stunning display of skill and determination, Schwartzman showcased his agility and resilience, overcoming Nadal in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 7-5. Following this significant win, he advanced to the semi-finals, where he triumphed over Denis Shapovalov before ultimately facing Novak Djokovic in the final, where he finished as the runner-up. This impressive performance bolstered his confidence just days before the start of Roland-Garros.
Facing Thiem at Roland-Garros 2020
One of the standout moments of Schwartzman’s Grand Slam career occurred just a week after his Rome success. As the 12th seed at Roland-Garros, he advanced to the quarter-finals without dropping a single set. Here, he encountered Dominic Thiem, a two-time finalist at the French Open and the recent US Open champion. Despite Thiem’s previous grueling five-set match against Hugo Gaston, Schwartzman started strong, clinching the first set in a tiebreak. However, Thiem responded, winning the second set and saving a crucial third set point. Schwartzman fought back, breaking Thiem and serving for the set at 5-4, eventually winning the match in a thrilling five-set showdown with scores of 7-6(1), 5-7, 6-7(6), 7-6(5), 6-1. Although his remarkable journey ended in the following round against a rejuvenated Nadal, this performance marked a significant milestone in his career, elevating him to his highest ranking of 8th in the world shortly after.
Victory Over Zverev at the US Open 2019
Two years after his debut quarter-final at the US Open, Schwartzman found himself back in the spotlight. His 2019 season had been stellar, highlighted by a semi-final appearance in Rome and a title in Los Cabos. In a challenging round of 16 match against the 6th seed Sascha Zverev, Schwartzman initially dropped the first set but capitalized on Zverev’s 17 double faults to rally back and secure victory in four sets, finishing with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3. Unfortunately, his progression in Grand Slam tournaments would once again be halted by Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals, marking a pattern in their encounters, with Schwartzman having lost every match against Nadal in major tournaments.
Defeating Cilic at the US Open 2017
Continuing his ascent in 2017, Schwartzman reached new heights following a strong finish in 2016. He made it to the quarter-finals of both the Monte Carlo and Montreal Masters 1000 events, including a significant win over Dominic Thiem. Arriving at the US Open brimming with confidence, Schwartzman faced Marin Cilic, the 5th seed and a former US Open champion. After losing the first set, Schwartzman utilized Cilic’s unforced errors to regain momentum, ultimately winning in four sets with scores of 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-4. This exciting victory, celebrated by an enthusiastic crowd, propelled him into the next round, where he defeated Lucas Pouille before succumbing to Pablo Carreno-Busta.
Confronting Anderson at Roland-Garros 2018
Schwartzman’s 2018 season mirrored his previous success, highlighted by his ATP 500 title in Rio. He entered Roland-Garros with strong momentum and faced Kevin Anderson in the round of 16. The match was a classic “David versus Goliath” scenario, with Schwartzman standing at 1.70 meters against Anderson’s towering 2.03 meters. After a rocky start, Schwartzman found himself down two sets but staged a remarkable comeback, winning the third set 7-5. The fourth set saw a similar pattern, where Schwartzman broke back after Anderson served for the match at 5-4, ultimately taking the set in a tiebreak. In a tightly contested fifth set, Schwartzman broke Anderson twice and sealed his victory with an ace, concluding a thrilling 3-hour and 52-minute match with scores of 1-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(0), 6-2. This win marked his first quarter-final appearance at Roland-Garros, although he would once again face Nadal in the next round, where he was eliminated.